Halifax adds 60 electric buses to public fleet
The operator, which serves the city of Halifax in Nova Scotia, first put out a tender for the procurement of 60 electric buses back in 2021. Nova Bus emerged as the winner of the tender, with buses meant for delivery by 2024.
According to Halifax Transit, the first Nova LFSe+ was delivered in December 2023 and used for initial testing, training and PR. Following that, the other 59 electric buses were delivered within 12 months, with real-world in-service testing of three buses beginning in December 2024.
However, all 60 electric buses have now been commissioned for regular service, along with the associated charging infrastructure. Funded by $112m CAD (~€71m) from the governments of Canada, Nova Scotia, and the city itself, Halifax Transit expanded its Ragged Lake Transit Centre (RLTC). The firm added 40 additional parking spaces for buses as well as 67 charging stations with a total maximum capacity of up to 5,250kW. This is supported by the installation of a solar array on the roof of the building.
The buses themselves will have the same passenger capacity as current diesel models. However, they are reportedly much quieter and therefore fitted with an altering system that sends ‘unobtrusive warning sounds’ at slower speeds. Additionally, the buses use a regenerative braking system to conserve charge.
Halifax Transit now plans to expand its fleet to a further 200 zero-emission buses over the coming years, but is yet to commit to a specific powertrain. The mayor of Halifax, Andy Fillmore, has, however, stated that the city is also exploring the use of natural gas and hydrogen-powered buses, specifically in areas where BEVs are unfeasible due to weather conditions.
Anthony Edmonds, project manager of fleet electrification for Halifax Transit, told CBC: “It’s incredibly exciting. We’ve been working towards this for a long time and to finally be able to cut the ribbon on this new facility, I think it’s a big milestone for Halifax Transit. I think it’s a sign of more things to come and the start of a really bright, green future.”
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