Electric Bus Pilot Project
Project status – February 2024
We’ve installed 14 electric bus charging stations inside our Springs Gardens garage and continuous testing is underway. However, delivery of our zero-emission battery electric community shuttle buses has been delayed as the vendor has had various supply chain issues. We are working to resolve this situation as quickly as possible.
About the project
Calgary Transit is moving to a fleet of zero-emission buses to support The City’s corporate-emission reduction goals in the Calgary Climate Strategy- Pathways to 2050. Our fleet transition includes a project to deploy several 40-foot battery electric buses (BEBs). To prepare for BEB operations, we’re pursuing an electric bus pilot project to put 14 28-foot battery electric shuttles on the road.
Project benefits
The pilot provides an opportunity for us to get familiar with BEB technology while validating the operational, economic, and environmental benefits of using BEBs in our system. The pilot supports The City’s Green Fleet Strategy to evaluate and incorporate fully electric, electric hybrid, and other low carbon vehicle technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Project funding
Estimated total project costs are $14 million, with $7 million provided by the Government of Alberta’s Emissions Reduction Alberta grant program.
Project timeline
- Procure battery electric shuttles: Q1 2022
- Identify appropriate routes, procure, and install charging equipment: Q2 2023
- Battery electric shuttles go into service: Under review pending delivery status
Project video
Emissions Reduction Alberta created this video about our project. Calgary Transit’s Sharon Fleming discusses the project’s purpose and how it supports The City’s push toward low-carbon vehicle technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
FAQs
What battery electric shuttles are you using for your pilot project?
We awarded Vicinity Motor Corp. the contract to supply us with 14 battery electric shuttle buses for our pilot project. The purchased buses are shorter than our existing shuttles (28 feet versus 30 feet). The battery electric shuttles can carry up to 22 passengers and has a manufacturer specified range of about 200 km.
What infrastructure have you installed for the pilot? Where is it located?
We’ve installed 14 electric bus charging stations inside our Springs Gardens garage, which stores and dispatches our existing shuttle fleet and has capacity to accommodate our 14 battery electric shuttles. The charging stations enable us to simultaneously charge the 14 battery electric shuttles.
The chargers deliver fast charging and need only about two hours to fully charge our shuttles. Special charge management system software manages power to the chargers, so we don’t exceed the facility’s electrical capacity limits.
The charging cabinets and dispensers were supplied by ABB, a leading global technology company. Engineering firm Burns & McDonnell supplied, designed and installed the charging equipment.
Our Spring Gardens garage (located at 928 32 Avenue N.E.), opened in 1975 and expanded in 2015, includes body, machine, and heavy-duty mechanical shops as well as an administration office.