First 10 electric buses to enter service at BC Transit
BC Transit, the transport operator for Victoria Regional Transit System, first called for funding for electric buses back in July 2019. Initially, 66 vehicles were ordered from Nova Bus and New Flyer back in May 2024, with the first 10 buses in this order finally being delivered in April of this year. Now, the e-buses are undergoing a phased roll-out over the next few weeks, with all 10 expected to be in service towards the end of the year.
However, there is no indication yet as to when the rest of the order will be fulfilled or when the other vehicles will enter operation. All BC Transit has said is that it has now ordered a total of 125 electric buses from Nova Bus and New Flyer, and that it aims to have 80 electric buses serving other regional transit systems (besides Victoria) by the end of 2026.
The exact models of the buses procured has not been shared, but BC Transit has stated they will “save about one tanker truck of diesel fuel per year” and reduce carbon emissions by nearly 95-per cent.
The new buses were funded with an initial investment of $28.6m CAD from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program as well as contributions from the governments of Canada and British Columbia, plus the Victoria Regional Transit Commission. BC Transit then secured an additional $395.5m CAD in July 2023 with support from the Zero Emission Transit Fund.
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