JLL Taps Proterra to Deliver America’s First Fully Electric Commercial Bus Fleet

Proterra, the world’s leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, and JLL (NYSE:JLL), the leading professional services firm specializing in real estate, today announced the first commercial agreement to provide commuter shuttle services via a fleet of electric buses. The service will operate between Chicago’s commuter train stations and two of the city’s tallest buildings, the iconic Prudential Plaza and Aon Center, both of which are managed by JLL. The lease of 10 Proterra Catalyst shuttle buses represents two important industry firsts: The shuttle service will be the first in the country to operate a 100 percent zero-emission electric bus fleet as well as one of the first commercial customers to lease electric buses. This zero-emission, corporate fleet also marks a notable step toward Chicago achieving its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

“Creating clean transportation options is a key pillar of the City’s sustainability goals,” said Randy Conner, Acting Commissioner of Transportation. “This fleet is exactly the type of adoption we hoped Drive Clean Chicago would spur, and look forward to seeing how other fleets respond to the precedent that has been set.”

Funded in part by Drive Clean Chicago, JLL will lease the Proterra buses for its shuttle service for Prudential Plaza and Aon Center tenants commuting to and from the Ogilvie, Union and LaSalle Street commuter rail stations. Each building will lease five Proterra buses, demonstrating a new way for commercial customers to procure zero-emission transit solutions. The program will begin in December 2016.

“At Proterra, we are dedicated to ensuring every transit provider can seamlessly transition to a zero-emission fleet,” said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. “By leasing the buses, Proterra customers can electrify their fleets with no out-of-pocket cost and total annual payments and costs equivalent to the total operating costs of a leased diesel bus.  With this flexible financing solution, we’re better able to scale our technology, serve new markets and further our goal of providing clean, quiet transportation to all.” 

The Proterra shuttle bus program demonstrates JLL’s commitment to sustainability both in its managed buildings, such as Aon Center and Prudential Plaza, and its own operations. In 2015, JLL helped clients reduce their collective greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 12 million metric tons. Since 2007, it has helped clients save $3.3 billion in cumulative energy costs.  JLL has also set targets to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in its own offices, setting ambitious goals to reduce building related greenhouse gas emissions per corporate office employee, building-related energy consumption per corporate office and rented area per corporate office employee by 2017.

“Increasingly, we’re seeing tenants request more transit options to ease their commutes,” said Bryan Oyster, Senior Vice President at JLL and General Manager of Prudential Plaza. “With Proterra’s leasing option, we are able to provide a top-of-the-line shuttle service that meets tenants’ commuting needs and Chicago’s clean vehicle goals, while staying true to our own sustainability goals.”

Aon Center, the fifth tallest building in the U.S., and Prudential Plaza are located in Chicago’s East Loop and are home to prestigious tenant rosters, including KPMG, Microsoft and United Health Group.  They are in close proximity to many of Chicago's premier cultural institutions including Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Goodman Theatre and Chicago Symphony Center.

 For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com and www.jll.com.