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

  • NZ Bus transitioning to electric powered vehicles
    April 22, 2016
    New Zealand-based infrastructure investment company has announced a US$30m deal with US electric vehicle powertrain manufacturer Wrightspeed to supply its Route 500, which it intends to deploy on its public transport business through NZ Bus. Wrightspeed's Route 500 range-extended powertrain is capable of powering vehicles weighing up to 36,000 pounds, in grades as steep as 40 per cent, and maintains an efficient drive, with an estimated 11.1 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent. The 80kW, fuel agnostic fulc
    Read More
  • ABB fast charging technology to be implemented by UK bus company
    April 25, 2017
    Electric charging technology specialist ABB has won a contract to supply three HVC 300P electric bus charging stations for a fleet of Volvo electric buses that will be operated in Harrogate, UK by Transdev Blazefield from 2018. ABB will also supply an electricity substation for installation at a bus station serving the town. The project will use OppCharge for ‘opportunity charging’, where buses are charged while they wait at bus stops at the end of the line equipped with fast-charging infrastructure. The bu
    Read More
  • ABB, Scania trial electric buses in Sweden
    May 3, 2017
    Swiss power and automation technology company ABB is to provide two ABB HVC300P fast-chargers for a Scania electric bus trial in Östersund, Sweden. The chargers are based on OppCharge, an open interface for the automated charging of electric buses from any manufacturer, and use a pantograph on the infrastructure to connect the bus to the charging point. The buses will be operated by Nettbuss, a subsidiary of the Norwegian State Railways, NSB. The two charging stations will be built at both ends of a 14-kilo
    Read More
  • EECA grant to convert 50 former trolley buses to electric
    August 13, 2018
    The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) will provide a $763,000 grant to Wellington, New Zealand, to convert 50 former trolley buses to battery power. The initiative supports the Greater Regional Wellington Council's ambition to run a fully electric fleet on its Metlink service. EECA is a government agency which works to improve the energy efficiency of New Zealand's homes and businesses. Bus operator NZ Bus will install fast-charging stations for its former trolley buses at depots in the
    Read More

Highlighted Content