/
Print
Services
Residents
Business
Visitors
Government
City of Knoxville
Blogs
City Blog
Sustainability Champion: Joh...
Sustainability Champion: John Hull
In celebration of Earth Month 2022, the City's Office of Sustainability is showcasing three exceptional employees who have been integral to our sustainability focus areas: energy, transportation, and waste.
John Hull
Director of Maintenance, Knoxville Area Transit (KAT)
1 year in current role, 3 years at KAT
John Hull oversees maintenance operations for KAT, directing the 50 staff that "actually maintain the vehicles," as he’ll be quick to tell you. He jokes that he spends most of his time “managing by walking around” to see how the technicians and supervisors are doing and troubleshoot immediate challenges, but John is also responsible for managing asset inventory, procuring parts and equipment, submitting monthly reports for the federal government, and more.
FROM DRIVER TO DIRECTOR
John took a job as a KAT driver in 2019, planning to drive for a couple years “for fun” after a long career in the private sector. “This was just supposed to be a retirement job,” he says with a laugh. Instead, he was quickly promoted -- first to maintenance parts manager, and then to director of maintenance in 2021.
He was immediately charged with a huge task: getting KAT’s new fleet of electric buses on the road. John had to learn everything about electric vehicles from scratch; he’d never owned one and didn’t know much about how they worked. “They’re nothing like our diesel buses,” he explains. “They look the same; riders have about the same experience, but these buses are really computers on wheels. They’re much higher-tech.”
John began field-testing the new electric buses in spring 2020. For months, he tracked how much battery the buses used on each of KAT’s routes to make sure they could handle different terrains, traffic patterns, and weather conditions. He analyzed performance on Knoxville’s famously hilly streets in order to optimize operations and get the buses ready for service. On top of managing data, John worked with Si McMurray, KAT’s Director of Procurement, to deploy high-tech “smart charging” software that makes sure each bus is ready for the next route.
Less than a year later, KAT is running 12 electric buses on daily routes and plans to add another six soon. John and the leadership team are exploring opportunities to install overhead "fast chargers" on routes to help the buses run with fewer interruptions each day.
ELECTRIFYING BUSES, INVESTING IN PEOPLE
While the entire KAT team was involved in the electric bus project, John Hull deserves special recognition for his behind-the-scenes role in its success. John has been instrumental to integrating this new technology into KAT’s operation and working out the kinks that come with adopting new technology. He has been invaluable to successfully integrating the new buses into KAT service.
On top of that, he saw the project as an opportunity to invest in his team. He continuously looks for ways to train his technicians – not only to ensure they can safely service electric vehicles, but so they can learn the technologies that are already changing the industry.
"The public is really excited about these buses," he says. "They’re comfortable, they’re convenient, riders can hear a conversation better than in a diesel bus. People definitely see them as the way of the future. I tell my staff to be open to change and learn this technology now because it’s absolutely the future of their careers, and I want them to be prepared."
John Hull is proud that KAT is on the leading edge, remarking that he’s seen exceptional political and financial support for the new buses. Now, he and others at KAT are working hard to share the lessons they’ve learned with other communities.
When asked what it means for Knoxville to be a sustainable city, he answers immediately:
“Knoxville is going to keep growing, and we have to plan now for services that won’t harm the environment," he says. "Things have to change. And we’re proud to be leading the charge.”
Posted by
ptravis
On 31 March, 2022 at 11:01 PM
Recent Posts
Stadium Update: Concrete Poured for Plazas, First Trees Planted, Streetscapes Improvements Under Way
Work Begins on Sevier Avenue Streetscapes; Look for Regularly Scheduled Project Updates
Postcard Photo of Augusta Quarry in Snow: Check Out the 9 New Swim Platforms!
Revolutionary War Veteran Honored With Victor Ashe Park Gravesite Restoration
Smokies Baseball and One Knox Soccer: Careful Collaboration Makes for 'A Great Fit'
12 Days of Public Service
Popular Market Square Ice Rink Set Attendance Record in 2023; On Pace to Set New Record This Year
Bike/ped safety improvements on Henley Bridge benefit all road users
Bracing for Winter's Wrath: City Plans for Snowy Weather, Stocks Up, Is Ready!
Henley Bridge Lights Might Rival Rudolph's Red Nose
Archives
February 2025 (1)
January 2025 (4)
December 2024 (5)
November 2024 (1)
October 2024 (5)
September 2024 (1)
August 2024 (2)
July 2024 (2)
June 2024 (1)
May 2024 (1)
April 2024 (4)
March 2024 (3)
Group Blogs
City Blog
KAT Blog
KPD News & Alerts
Magnolia Avenue Streetscapes Project
More...
Post Categories
City Events
City Services
Cumberland Ave.
Downtown
Government
KAT
Mayor Kincannon
Meetings
Neighborhoods
Outdoor & Recreation
Public Safety
Redevelopment
Road Work
South Waterfront
Sustainability
Content Alert Subscription
Blog Feeds
Podcast Feeds
Subscribe to Email Alerts