Ontario's First Electric Buses Arriving in 2019

Province Purchasing Electric Buses and Chargers for Brampton and York Region

News.ontario.ca
April 16, 2018
Ministry of Transportation

Ontario is reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of municipal transit systems by launching a new pilot program to test electric battery-powered buses on Brampton and York Region streets. This investment is part of Ontario's Climate Change Action Plan and is funded by proceeds from the province's cap on pollution and carbon market.

Steven Del Duca, Minister of Economic Development and Growth made the announcement today in Newmarket.

The province is supporting the purchase of 14 electric buses and four charging stations for transit systems in York Region and Brampton. The Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), a green transportation group, is coordinating the projects. The buses are expected to begin service in 2019.

Ontario's plan to support care, create opportunity and make life more affordable during this period of rapid economic change plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25, and 65 or over, through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.

 

Quick Facts

• Ontario is providing up to $13 million from available cap and trade funds to Brampton and York Region to buy 14 electric buses and four charging systems over the next 2 years.
• In 2015, the transportation sector accounted for approximately one third of Ontario’s greenhouse gas emissions, more than any other sector.
• The Climate Change Action Plan and carbon market form the backbone of Ontario's strategy to cut greenhouse gas pollution to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, 37 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050.
• Ontario is making the largest infrastructure investment in hospitals, schools, public transit, roads and bridges in the province's history. To learn more about what's happening in your community, go to Ontario.ca/BuildON.

Quotes

Steven Del Duca
Minister of Economic Development and Growth

“Our investment in York Region and Brampton demonstrates how we are helping our municipal transit systems reduce their carbon footprint. Reducing greenhouse gas pollution from vehicles is one of the most important actions we can take to fight climate change.”

Kathryn McGarry
Minister of Transportation

“This trial demonstrates our commitment to working with municipal transit partners to modernize their transportation fleets and to keeping our province an attractive and environmentally friendly place to live and work.”

Chris Ballard
Minister of the Environment and Climate Change

“Investing in municipal electric buses will help us significantly reduce greenhouse gas pollution from transportation, a sector that contributes more than one-third of the province’s emissions. Buses are an energy efficient way to move a large number of people. Making them an even cleaner option is a great example of how our carbon market and Climate Change Action Plan are investing in innovative actions to move us towards a healthier, low-carbon future.”

 

Linda Jeffrey
Mayor of Brampton

“Brampton Transit continues to promote new and innovative solutions to providing a high-quality service that reduces the City’s overall carbon footprint and GHG emissions. As Brampton sits along Canada’s Innovation Super Corridor, our well-connected transit network and a sustainable fleet is important in moving people more effectively across the GTHA. This announcement is a testament that the City of Brampton is Future Ready.”

 

Wayne Emmerson
York Region Chairman and CEO

“This funding commitment from the Government of Ontario gives York Region the green-light to move ahead with our plans to explore alternative fuel options and contribute to our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2051. Partners are fundamental to the success of reducing our carbon footprint and we are excited to move this innovative project forward to encourage healthy communities and provide travellers with low-emission transportation technology to move them more efficiently across the Region.”

 

Josipa Petrunic
Executive Director and CEO, Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium

“This funding announcement ensures Ontario is leading the global race in developing and integrating standardized high-powered electric charging systems for heavy-duty vehicles. For the first time in the world competitive bus manufacturers and competitive charging station manufacturers are standardizing their technologies and demonstrating the interoperability for electric bus systems. Ontario and British Columbia are leading the nation in this effort. This type of collaboration, standardization and integration work is moving Canada to the forefront of global development in zero emissions technology and job growth in the low-carbon economy.”