Electrifying the Transportation Fleet
Electrifying the transportation fleet in Canada has become an urgent issue. The growing costs of diesel vehicles are driving the need for a clean energy transition. Electric buses can save money by using fewer moving parts and cutting down on maintenance. Electrification also reduces air pollution. Many transit agencies in Canada are moving forward with zero-emission bus commitments. The government has introduced incentives to motivate municipal officials to adopt electrification.
Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) has pledged $1.5 billion to fund electric bus deployment and charging infrastructure. In November, the Quebec government announced a $5 billion investment in public transportation projects. These investments will support projects in rural and northern communities. The government will also spend $180 billion in social infrastructure and transportation routes over the next 12 years.
The federal government has set a target to have 5,000 zero-emission buses on the road by 2024. The federal government has also committed to having all new medium-duty buses in Canada converted to zero-emission vehicles (ZEBs) by 2040. The BEB Demonstration and Integration Trial, launched by the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium, is evaluating advanced zero-emission public transit technologies. In addition, the government of Prince Edward Island made a commitment to converting its fleet of buses to electric power.
The Quebec government has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% below 1990 levels by 2020. It has also created the Electric Vehicles 2011-2020 Action Plan to outline its vision for clean energy. It will also help fund nine transit agencies. The Societe de transport de Laval plans to buy 10 electric buses by 2020.
Letenda is a zero-emission bus manufacturer based in Quebec. The The Bus Centre company has worked for six years to develop a new generation of electric buses for the Canadian market. Its first model is the Electrip, a nine-meter long, all-electric midibus. The Electrip is designed for cold temperatures in Canada. Its modular aluminum body and lightweight design allow for efficiency. The Electrip has a total of 24 seats and can accommodate up to six wheelchairs.
In the winter, the Electrip can be equipped with an underfloor heating system. It also has the ability to carry up to 45 people. It is an intermediate bus with a modular aluminum structure that is designed to be used in harsh Canadian winters. The Electrip’s power train has been designed to be ultra-quiet, making it the most quiet EV-bus on the market.
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) plans to buy 300 electric buses in 2023. It has never bought electric buses before. The TTC is planning to develop specifications for an electric bus fleet. The company chose three suppliers to produce the vehicles. The first supplier is Manitoba-based New Flyer, which was chosen over California-based Proterra. The company also received an undisclosed amount of funding from the government.
In addition to the government’s support, Natural Resources Canada’s Green Infrastructure Program will provide $3.6 million to help the city manage the project. The transportation department will strategically deploy the buses based on the route length. It will also be important to assess how much battery capacity is needed to power the heating system during winter.
The Bus Centre
11461 Hayes Crescent
Acheson, AB
T7X 6C6
Canada
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