​BRAMPTON, ON (May 3, 2021) – Today, Mayor Patrick Brown, on behalf of Brampton City Council, announced that battery electric buses (BEBs) will be on Brampton’s roads starting May 4.

This will be the largest single global deployment to date of standardized and fully interoperable BEBs and high-powered overhead on-route charging systems, as part of the Pan-Canadian BEB Demonstration and Integration Trial.

Brampton joins TransLink and York Region Transit in this global-first, multi-city deployment of fully interoperable buses and charging systems in partnership with Nova Bus, New Flyer Industries, ABB Inc., Siemens Canada, and Newmarket-Tay Power Distribution Ltd. The Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) launched this project in 2017. It will be the first in the world where vehicles and chargers from different manufacturers can be used in fully interoperable form, meaning they can plug into one another’s charging infrastructure to gain a charge.

Brampton’s deployment differs from deployments in other cities where buses can only charge at designated charging depots. Brampton’s depot and on-road charging options allow for an increase in daily travel ranges on the electric buses.

This breakthrough electric bus technology will support zero tailpipe emissions and reduce pollution. The buses will also achieve near-zero emissions in their lifecycle, a significant decrease in emissions from diesel equivalents. Each bus can charge completely in less than 10 minutes.

Brampton Transit will add eight BEBs to its fleet, two from Nova Bus and six from New Flyer. The BEBs will be introduced into service on May 4, starting with Route 26 Mount Pleasant, and followed by Route 23 Sandalwood. Four high-powered (450 kWh) overhead pantograph on-route charging stations are installed at the Mount Pleasant Village terminal, the Queen Street/Highway 50 Züm station, and the Sandalwood Transit Facility, three from ABB Inc. and one from Siemens Canada Ltd.

For the duration of the Brampton project, all BEBs and chargers will have a new branding design, unique from the rest of the fleet.

Background
In 2019, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, then Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced $11.15 million towards this first phase of the pilot project, which will cost an estimated $16 million in total. Federal funding was provided through Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Fund and Natural Resources Canada’s Green Infrastructure – Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration Program.

Brampton Transit is committed to promoting new and innovative solutions to provide a high-quality service that reduces the City’s overall carbon footprint and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Brampton Transit currently operates 450 buses in its fleet, including 133 diesel-electric hybrid Züm bus rapid transit buses.

Quotes

“I am excited to announce the launch of electric buses on Brampton’s roads starting May 4. Brampton is a Green City, and this is a significant milestone in sustainability for our community. We are proud to collaborate with CUTRIC, our project partners and leaders in innovation for the Pan-Canadian Battery Electric Bus Demonstration and Integration Trial in Brampton. This project is a global first, and will further enhance our transit network, which is one of the fastest-growing in Canada.”
- Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton

"This deployment makes Canada a hotbed of electric bus innovation. The growth of the Pan-Canadian Electric Bus Demonstration and Integration Trial with the City of Brampton’s successful deployment this year is helping to ensure transit agencies, cities and the federal government get the greatest bang for their buck by allowing them to pick from a variety of competitors whose systems all work together. This project has shifted the entire industry towards interoperability and standardization. This is good news for taxpayers and great news for transit riders. This project is also creating new low-carbon technology jobs and attracting foreign direct investment by major companies in Brampton, Ontario and Canada, which is more critical than ever as we work to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic."
- Josipa Petrunic, President and CEO of CUTRIC

“Brampton City Council is dedicated to reducing our city’s carbon footprint. We are on a journey to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated in Brampton by 80 per cent by 2050. I encourage everyone to keep an eye on the roads for Brampton’s first electric buses, which will save approximately 235 tonnes of CO2 per year, per bus!”
- Paul Vicente, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 & 5; Chair, Public Works and Engineering, City of Brampton

“Brampton City Council recently approved the updated Brampton Grow Green Environmental Master Plan for our city, and electric buses support this mission for a greener city. The Pan-Canadian Battery Electric Bus Demonstration and Integration Trial will help reduce our contributions to global climate change and inspire other municipalities to lead sustainability initiatives.”
- Doug Whillans, City Councillor Wards 2 & 6; Member, Environment Advisory Committee; Member, CEERP Community Task Force, City of Brampton

“Brampton is a leader in sustainability, and this is the first step in electrifying Brampton Transit’s fleet. We are committed to improving transit and active transportation opportunities, focusing on energy efficiency, and bringing innovative technologies to Brampton.”
- David Barrick, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton

“Canadians are looking for greener options to get to where they need to go, so that’s what we’re giving them. The City of Brampton’s electric bus pilot project is an example of the innovative clean technology solutions that will help get us to net-zero.”
- The Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Natural Resources

“Helping residents of Brampton get around in faster, cleaner and more affordable ways is the goal of our investment in zero-emission buses. Today’s launch is an important milestone towards Brampton’s ambitious goal of reducing emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, and toward our government’s commitment to add 5,000 zero emission buses over 5 years. It will support Canadian jobs, tackle climate change, and build cleaner, more inclusive communities.”
- The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“Electrifying Canada’s transportation sector offers huge economic opportunities while contributing to cleaner air and reduced carbon emissions as we push toward net zero by 2050. The City of Brampton, with federal support, is blazing a trail, and showing Canadians the practical benefits from the transition to a low-carbon economy are already here.”
- The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change