A $450,000 grant from Duke Energy will help Greensboro's Department of Transportation (GDOT) install an electric charging station for the future influx of all-electric buses in the city.

The grant is part of Duke Energy's overall $1.5 million "EV Charging Infrastructure Project" - expanding charging for electric vehicles throughout North Carolina.

"Greensboro presented a compelling case for electric buses and the need for charging infrastructure," said Davis Montgomery, Duke Energy government and community relations manager. "Duke Energy's grant will further promote electric transportation in this area."

As part of an overall $1.5 million EV Charging Infrastructure Project, the company recently announced funding for more than 200 public EV charging stations throughout North Carolina for passenger vehicles.

As for bus charging, the Greensboro Transportation Authority (GTA) is transitioning its fleet of 47 diesel buses to all electric vehicles. Over the next 10 years, the city plans to pair $4.5 million in voter-approved bonds with federal funds to replace diesel buses that have met or exceeded their useful life of 12 years or 500,000 miles.

GDOT director Adam Fischer said GTA is making this transition because the overall life cycle cost of electric buses is $250,000 to $400,000 less than diesel buses due to lower operating and maintenance costs.

Electric buses have no tailpipe emissions and are up to four times as economical to operate than conventional buses. Greensboro could have its first two or three electric buses on the streets by 2018.

The Duke Energy grant will allow the GDOT to purchase a rapid-charging station for the J. Douglas Galyon Depot. One rapid-charging station can replenish a bus battery array in seven to 10 minutes.

The Duke Energy program was part of a recent settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and environmental groups.