Dec 7, 2023 - History

San Francisco’s old-school battery-powered buses

Megan Rose Dickey

The "Electrobus" in 1972. Photo: Marshall Moxom, Municipal Railway Photographer | SFMTA Photo Archive

Perhaps you've seen some all-electric buses in San Francisco as part of the city's battery-electric bus pilot program, but did you know this isn't the first time the city has tested gasoline-free buses?

Flashback: In November 1972, Muni tested an "Electrobus" on the 39 Coit route up Telegraph Hill, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.

The bus never went into service, but the city tested its capabilities by loading it up with sandbags to simulate the weight of passengers.

What to watch: The SFMTA is working toward having an all-electric Muni fleet by 2040.

Currently, the transportation agency is testing battery-operated buses from four manufacturers.

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San Francisco’s old-school battery-powered buses

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