Zero-Emission Buses
Project status – June 2023
We’ve secured funding and financing to kick-start our transition to zero-emission buses with a bus electrification project. This includes:
- Grant funding from Infrastructure Canada’s Zero Emission Transit Fund (up to $325 million)
- Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) financing ($165 million)
- City funding ($100 million) as part of the 2023-2026 Service Plans and Budgets
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. We’re using a phased approach to acquire zero-emission buses, transform operations, prepare our workforce, and build needed infrastructure, such as charging stations. Our fleet transition includes a bus electrification project to deploy up to 259 40-foot battery electric buses (BEBs) by 2026. Our bus electrification project is a good first step in our transition journey, as it will shift about one quarter of our fleet to zero-emission buses. To prepare for BEB operations, we’re pursuing an electric bus pilot project.
Project benefits
By replacing end-of-life diesel buses with BEBs, we expect to provide clean, quiet, and comfortable rides for Calgarians with less pollution, noise, and exhaust and lower operating costs. We anticipate BEBs will:
- help us trim our total bus fleet greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 13,000 tonnes of CO2 per year from 2023 to 2030
- be less costly to maintain and operate with lower fuel costs on an on-going basis over the life of the buses when compared to conventional diesel buses.
Project timeline
- Procure BEBs and supporting infrastructure: Q4 2023
- Infrastructure construction completed: Q3 2025
- Initial BEBs onsite: Q4 2025
- BEBs go into service: Q1 2026
Frequently asked questions
Will you replace diesel buses with BEBs before the diesel buses reach the end of their life?
No. We will only replace diesel buses when they’re at the end of their planned life.
Will you replace compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and gasoline shuttles with BEBs?
No. Our fleet acquisition budget for 2023-2026 includes funding for gasoline shuttles and CNG buses. We will adjust our fleet transit plan based on changes to technology, costs and funding sources throughout future business cycles and strategy implementation.
Will BEBs perform in Calgary’s cold weather?
Edmonton Transit Service and Saskatoon Transit have completed BEB demonstration projects. Project results suggest BEBs perform as well as diesel buses during the colder months. We are working with these and other transit agencies to learn best practices and strategies for BEB implementation.
Did you consider hydrogen fuel cell buses as opposed to BEBs?
Yes, but there are currently no hydrogen fueling stations available to us in the Calgary area, preventing hydrogen fuel bus operation. We’re focused on BEBs because we can move forward now to acquire BEBs and upgrade our garages with charging infrastructure using readily available federal government financing and funding to kick start our transition to a zero-emission fleet. We’re committed to evaluating and incorporating hydrogen fuel cell buses and other low or zero-emission vehicle technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
What’s planned to shift the rest of CT’s fleet to zero-emission vehicles?
We’re developing a road map of how we will transition to a zero-emission fleet over the next 10 to 20 years. It will look at other alternate fuel sources, such as hydrogen and renewable natural gas.