King County Metro deploys 89 Gillig battery buses with 123 pantograph chargers at new Tukwila depot
By Eve
King County Metro will launch its next generation of battery electric buses on 2 February 2026, with 89 Gillig 40ft units entering service on six routes from the new Tukwila Base. The depot houses 123 pantograph chargers for a 120 bus capacity, and each vehicle offers 240 to 280 miles of range. Metro holds an option to purchase up to 395 additional buses if the initial order performs as expected, supporting its zero emission fleet target by 2035.
Why it matters
The deployment demonstrates large scale pantograph charging infrastructure at depot level and establishes a procurement pathway for nearly 500 buses, signalling sustained demand for charging hardware and installation services. The 240 to 280 mile range requirement sets a performance benchmark for future North American transit electrification tenders.
Source
- Original title
- “Friday Roundtable: New Battery Buses”
- Published
- 30 January 2026 (date approximate)
- Updated
- 22 September 2026
In this story
- Topic
- Electric Vehicles
- Place
- United States
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