Skip to main content

Canadian government invests in electric bus infrastructure

The government of Canada will invest CAN1.2m into the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority’s (TransLink’s) demonstration project to install overhead charging stations for electric buses in Vancouver. The fund follows a commitment to support initiatives that provide citizens with more options for clean driving. Bus manufacturers New Flyer Industries and Nova Bus will develop the electric transit buses while ABB and Siemens will develop the chargers. These companies will also evaluate the
April 26, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

The government of Canada will invest CAN1.2m into the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority’s (376 TransLink’s) demonstration project to install overhead charging stations for electric buses in Vancouver. The fund follows a commitment to support initiatives that provide citizens with more options for clean driving.

Bus manufacturers New Flyer Industries and Nova Bus will develop the electric transit buses while ABB and Siemens will develop the chargers. These companies will also evaluate the products’ interoperability and performance.

Additionally, the government has invested CAN182.5m to support the development of electric chargers, natural gas and hydrogen refuelling stations, the demonstration of new charging technologies and the advancement of codes and standards.

Kevin Desmond, CEO of TransLink, said: "Mass transit has always scored high as a sustainable way to move large numbers of people, but many transit vehicles still use carbon-based fuels. Today, almost half our bus fleet runs on cleaner technology including our electric trolley, hybrid diesel and natural gas buses. With this fast-charge, battery-electric trial, TransLink is getting the on-the-ground experience we need."

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Cost effective EV fast charger from ABB
    March 27, 2013
    US power and automation technology group says its latest fast charger, the Terra SC is a cost-effective direct-current (DC) charger specifically designed for convenient fast charging in commercial and office areas. It fully charges an electric vehicle (EV) in thirty to 120 minutes. The Terra SC is also ideal for people who want to keep driving but don’t necessarily need a full charge: it can charge the battery of currently available EVs from thirty per cent to eighty per cent in less than half an hour. Easy
  • Oregon tests new mileage-base charging scheme
    August 5, 2013
    Jack Opiola from D’Artagnan Consulting LLP explains Oregon’s latest moves which mandated a trial of mileage-based road use charging. In 1919, Oregon made the 20th century’s most significant contribution to transportation funding policy, becoming the first state in America to implement a gas tax to pay for roads. This summer Oregon’s Legislature passed, and Governor John Kitzhaber signed into law, Senate Bill 810 which requires a distance-based road usage charge for 5,000 volunteer vehicles by 1 July 2015. T
  • Birmingham to open Clean Air Zone in 2021
    October 14, 2020
    Hydrogen buses will also start operating in the UK city from next year
  • Siemens to deliver charging solutions to electric buses to Denmark
    April 11, 2018
    Siemens has entered a three-year agreement with Denmark’s public transport authority Movia to deliver charging stations with a top-down pantograph for electric buses to help slash particle and noise pollution and CO2 emissions. The transaction could potentially benefit 45 municipalities including the city of Copenhagen and Region Zealand. Last year, these towns and two regions of Zealand made a commitment to achieve C02-neutral bus transport by 2030 as part of Movia’s Mobility Plan 2016. In addition, t