Island Explorer buses on MDI to go electric with help from $23 million federal award

MAINE PUBLIC • June 28, 2024

The federal government is awarding Maine more than $23 million to buy electric buses and charging equipment for the company that operates the propane-powered Island Explorer buses at Acadia National Park and other locations on Mount Desert Island. Downeast Transportation Executive Director Paul Murphy says the buses should improve the air quality on the island. "Comparing to fossil fuel buses, they are dramatically cleaner and they're also quieter and they don't smell as bad as fossil fuel buses, although propane is pretty clean."