Durham Region Transit welcomes its six first electric buses

Whitby, ON – Durham Region Transit (DRT) is delighted to announce the arrival of six new electric buses, and the first key milestone in delivering the E-Mission Zero program. This initiative is part of DRT’s commitment to achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions through a sustainable network of vehicles, infrastructure, and facilities by 2037. The introduction of these first battery electric buses will allow DRT to assess and plan for their transition to a full fleet of zero-emission buses.

Funding for first six battery electric buses

The purchase of the first six battery electric buses and associated equipment and infrastructure was made possible through $12.1 million in funding from the Canada Community-Building Fund (formerly the federal Gas Tax Fund), a federal program administrated by Infrastructure Canada.

Durham Region and DRT have also signed a credit agreement with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), which will be used to purchase up to 98 additional electric buses. This agreement provides the Region with low interest financing of up to $62 million over the next four years.  

Operational Details

The first six electric buses are supplied by Nova Bus and will operate from the Oshawa depot, where dedicated chargers installed by EnerFORGE, part of Oshawa Power Group of Companies, will support daily operations. These buses will initially be deployed on routes with high rider volume and long cycle times, such as the PULSE routes, and gradually be circulated through other routes to assess operational performance. Each bus can travel at least 225 kilometers before needing to return to the garage.

Quotes:

“These new electric buses are a critical step in our journey towards a zero-emission future. By reducing transit vehicle emissions, we are fostering a healthier, more sustainable Durham Region for generations to come.” 

-       John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer

“We are grateful for the federal government’s partnership in making this project a reality. The Canada Community-Building Fund and the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s support are vital in Durham Region Transit’s transition to a green transit fleet.”

-          Regional Councillor Marilyn Crawford, Chair of the Transit Executive Committee

“The introduction of these electric buses will not only reduce our carbon footprint but also provide reliable and efficient service to our growing ridership. This is just the beginning of the work supporting our objective for a sustainable transit future.”

-       Bill Holmes, General Manager of Durham Region Transit

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Media inquiries:

The Regional Municipality of Durham:

Corporate Communications

CorporateCommunications@durham.ca