CTA to test all-electric buses

Chicago transit officials are buying two electric buses for testing to see if they can handle the city’s extremes of heat and cold as well as heavy passenger loads.

The Chicago Transit Authority already has diesel-electric hybrids, but these buses will operate solely on electricity through a system built by Siemens. The agency says they must be able to travel up to 100 miles on a single charge.

Starting in late 2013, they will be tested on actual bus routes. The vehicles will have all the features of those in the current fleet, including surveillance cameras, air conditioning and wheelchair ramps.

The agency announced the plans on Wednesday. It’s funding the $2.5 million purchase through a federal transportation program to encourage a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and energy use.