Proterra Model Designations

[M. Parsons]

VIN plates on Edmonton's Proterra's show a model of CAT40DP. Doing some research on units tested at Altoona, I found this:

December 2016 40' bus has a model of Catalyst E2.
April 2014 40' bus is a model BE40
June 2017 35' is a Catalyst 35, although, the model on the page is given as Catalyst 35 FC. This bus was tested in June 2018.
In January 2019 another 35' bus was tested as well. This bus was only 5 serial numbers difference from the June 2017 test bus, but, includes this note:
"Proterra represents that the CAT35PD is a Proterra platform model designator moving forward. The CAT35PD denoted the platform family, length and drivetrain. In this example CAT(Catalyst) 35(35ft length) PD(ProDrive). Also, as such, the CAT35PD is the same platform as the “Catalyst 35ft E2”, “Catalyst 35-foot E2”, “35-Foot Proterra E2 Catalyst” and “35-foot E2 Catalyst. For further clarification, “E2” designates 440kWh of on board energy."

Also in the report:
"The FTA noted in their determination letter, dated October 1, 2018, that “To
achieve a Catalyst 35ft E2 configuration from a Catalyst 35ft FC platform, two underfloor Fast Charge packs will be removed (pack #1 & 2) resulting in four mounted Fast
Charge packs in the same location as the two [physically larger] E2 packs.”
Accordingly, an additional 2,300 lb. of ballast was mounted on the rooftop and an
additional 1,212 lb. of ballast was mounted at the floor level inside the vehicle to the
existing hard points on the test bus"

So sometime between June 2018 and January 2019 Proterra moved to the CAT##XX model numbering.

Personally, I think it is worthwhile including the battery capacity designation,  such as "E2 Max" even if it is not apart of the model on the VIN plate,  as that generally indicates the charging method and the battery capacity has quite a few options available and is a pretty significant feature. Proterra used to use that information themselves in the models it seems.

For Barp, we've decided to call Edmonton's buses CAT40DP E2 Max. 

[2044]

To add to this. Proterra announced their latest generation of electric bus.

https://www.proterra.com/press-release/proterra-launches-zx5-electric-bus/

Edmonton’s appear to be one of the first.

[2044]

On 9/3/2020 at 11:22 PM, M. Parsons said:

VIN plates on Edmonton's Proterra's show a model of CAT40DP. Doing some research on units tested at Altoona, I found this:

December 2016 40' bus has a model of Catalyst E2.
April 2014 40' bus is a model BE40
June 2017 35' is a Catalyst 35, although, the model on the page is given as Catalyst 35 FC. This bus was tested in June 2018.
In January 2019 another 35' bus was tested as well. This bus was only 5 serial numbers difference from the June 2017 test bus, but, includes this note:
"Proterra represents that the CAT35PD is a Proterra platform model designator moving forward. The CAT35PD denoted the platform family, length and drivetrain. In this example CAT(Catalyst) 35(35ft length) PD(ProDrive). Also, as such, the CAT35PD is the same platform as the “Catalyst 35ft E2”, “Catalyst 35-foot E2”, “35-Foot Proterra E2 Catalyst” and “35-foot E2 Catalyst. For further clarification, “E2” designates 440kWh of on board energy."

Also in the report:
"The FTA noted in their determination letter, dated October 1, 2018, that “To
achieve a Catalyst 35ft E2 configuration from a Catalyst 35ft FC platform, two underfloor Fast Charge packs will be removed (pack #1 & 2) resulting in four mounted Fast
Charge packs in the same location as the two [physically larger] E2 packs.”
Accordingly, an additional 2,300 lb. of ballast was mounted on the rooftop and an
additional 1,212 lb. of ballast was mounted at the floor level inside the vehicle to the
existing hard points on the test bus"

So sometime between June 2018 and January 2019 Proterra moved to the CAT##XX model numbering.

Personally, I think it is worthwhile including the battery capacity designation,  such as "E2 Max" even if it is not apart of the model on the VIN plate,  as that generally indicates the charging method and the battery capacity has quite a few options available and is a pretty significant feature. Proterra used to use that information themselves in the models it seems.

For Barp, we've decided to call Edmonton's buses CAT40DP E2 Max. 

Do you have an image of the VIN sticker of one of the ETS buses?