40-Foot Electric Buses
What’s the latest update on Calgary Transit’s 40-Foot Battery Electric Buses (BEBs)?
Updated May 1, 2026
Two 40-foot battery electric pilot buses are at our Spring Gardens garage for training and operational readiness.
We’re using the buses to train a small group of training officers, fleet maintenance staff, and operators so we can safely run and service the vehicles for in-garage and road testing slated for completion by April 2027.
We’re putting these pilot buses through their paces, as we would when testing any new fleet vehicle, to make sure they’re safe, work properly and will integrate seamlessly with our operations. This includes:
- collecting in-garage and on-road performance data to fine tune our operating practices
- noting things that we want changed in our forthcoming production units
- gathering feedback from staff
Later this year, we’ll give our findings to our vendor Nova Bus, which will make adjustments when producing our purchased 120 buses for delivery through 2028.
About the project
We spend a lot of time on the road, and incorporating lower-emission technology is an important step to reducing Calgary Transit's carbon footprint.
As our old diesel buses reach the end of life, we are diversifying and modernizing our fleet. This means adding vehicles powered by a number of different sources, including compressed natural gas, electric and gas-powered vehicles, in addition to diesel.
We’ve timed our fleet transition and battery electric vehicle purchases to take advantage of funding contributions from other levels of government and keep pace with Canada’s changing bus vehicle manufacturing industry.
What’s next?
We plan to deploy several 40-foot battery electric buses (BEBs). This bus electrification project supports our fleet transition to low- and zero-emission buses to help achieve The City’s corporate-emission reduction goals in the Calgary Climate Strategy - Pathways to 2050. This project is a good first step in our transition journey, as it will shift a good portion of our fleet to zero-emission buses.
Battery electric bus benefits
By replacing end-of-life diesel buses with battery electric buses (BEBs), we aim to provide Calgarians with clean, quiet, and comfortable rides while reducing pollution, noise and exhaust. We expect BEBs to offer the following benefits:
Reduced Emissions: BEBs are projected to reduce our total fleet greenhouse gas emissions by almost 5,700 tonnes of CO2 annually at project completion.
Lower Operating Costs: BEBs are less costly to maintain and operate over their lifespan compared to conventional diesel buses, thanks to reduced fuel and maintenance costs.
Alignment with Environmental Goals: Transitioning to BEBs is a core part of our commitment to lowering fleet emissions and advancing Calgary Transit’s sustainability initiatives, supporting the city’s broader climate goals.
Project funding
By taking advantage of funding contributions from other levels of government and incorporating all kinds of different fuel sources, we expect to be able to provide clean, quieter and more comfortable rides with less pollution, noise, and exhaust and lower operating costs.
Bus electrification project funding and financing includes:
- Grant funding from Infrastructure Canada’s Zero Emission Transit Fund (up to $220 million)
- Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) financing (up to $72 million)
- City funding ($100 million) as part of the 2023-2026 Service Plans and Budgets
Project timeline
- October 2024 – RFP released to market
- Q2 2025 – Charging infrastructure contract released to market
- July 2025 – BEB supplier selected
- Before end of 2028 – BEBs in service
Frequently Asked Questions
Operations
What is the range of these buses?
Nova Bus states the bus range is between 340 and 470 km, which is more than adequate to use on shorter routes, during peak periods.
Will the electric buses work when it gets cold?
The buses we are ordering have been proven to work during cold and winter conditions similar to Calgary and in cities across Canada. Ottawa and Toronto have both had success with their electric buses since 2022. Banff began using electric buses in 2022 as well. Ottawa and Toronto both use Nova buses, while Banff ordered its first Nova bus in 2025.
Will the heavier electric buses impact Calgary’s roads?
The heavier buses won’t have a significant wear and tear impact on Calgary roads, especially given the modest size of the electric bus fleet and low frequency of buses on select routes. The City has reviewed the bus routes and has determined that no upgrades to road infrastructure are needed. The City also committed that when a road does need to be built, all loading (including BEB routes) will be taken into consideration as part of its design.
Will the electric buses stress Calgary’s electrical grid?
No. We’ve involved ENMAX closely in planning electrical upgrades we’re making to the garage facilities where our new buses will be charged and stored. ENMAX is investing heavily in grid upgrades and expansions to ensure reliability and support future energy demands, including those from electric vehicles and increased adoption of renewable energy sources.
Where will Calgary Transit’s electric bus fleet be charged, serviced, and stored?
Our electric bus fleet will be charged, serviced and stored at its Spring Gardens and Anderson Garages. Charging equipment and infrastructure upgrades (HVAC, electrical, structural, maintenance bays) will be installed at these facilities by late 2027.
How many hours a year do you plan to operate electric buses? How does this compare to operating hours for diesel buses?
Based on our analysis, we deploy 2900 hours of service from our Spring Gardens and Anderson Garages each weekday. Of these hours, approximately 773 hours per weekday, or about 26 per cent, are suitable for electric buses. We plan to operate electric buses for this amount of service, which is the same number of operating hours conventional diesel buses currently handle from these garages. Our two pilot buses will confirm how factors such as passenger loading, stop frequency, traffic conditions, route geography, and weather affect real-world performance and utilization, compared to conventional buses of similar size and class.
When will you put the pilot buses you’re using for training and operational readiness into service?
We don’t plan to put our pilot buses into service. Unlike the 120 production buses we’ve bought, the pilot buses don’t meet all our requirements for transit service delivery. We expect to return the pilot buses to Nova Bus after we complete training and operational readiness.
Cost
What is the estimated cost per electric bus? How does this compare to diesel/CNG bus costs? Why wouldn’t you just use City funding to buy more conventional units?
The current cost per bus is $1.72 million, which is 40 per cent more than the cost of conventional diesel buses. With federal funding and financing specific for electric buses, we can buy more buses (120 units) than just using City funding (80-90 diesel units), resulting in overall lower costs per bus.
These new buses will also cost less fuel and maintainance than our current diesel buses.
How much funding is The City contributing to the electric bus program?
- $100 million from City of Calgary (22%)
- $123 million (approximately) from Canada Infrastructure Bank (28%)
- $220 million (up to) from Zero Emission Transit Fund (50%)
The Federal funding allows for upgrades to our facilities to charge and store the new buses.
The original funding was expected to cover the purchase of up to 180 electric buses, but the current order is 120. Why has the quantity changed?
Calgary Transit is buying fewer buses due to increasing bus costs due to inflation and materials. We also want to leave a funding contingency to offset potential tariff costs and resulting market uncertainty.
Due to the Federal Government’s funding, the purchase of 120 buses is still cheaper than purchasing diesel buses.
Does it still make sense to buy and operate electric buses, given the reduced purchase quantity?
Yes:
- Results in 30-40 more buses than if we bought more diesel buses.
- Provides long-term savings on maintenance and fuel costs.
- Secures funding for infrastructure upgrades (HVAC, electrical, structural, maintenance bays) at Spring Gardens and Anderson Garages that will benefit Calgary Transit’s entire fleet.
- Prepares us for changes in fuel technology and the bus manufacturing industry, which is shifting production focus towards low-emission vehicles
- Aligns with Council’s direction to reduce corporate greenhouse gas emissions, Calgary’s Climate Strategy and The City’s Green Fleet Strategy
What if the bus manufacturer goes out of business?
The City of Calgary confirmed the selected vendor has a strong financial position. In addition, Volvo, the parent company of Nova Bus, is providing a parental guarantee, meaning they’ll assume any damages if Nova Bus goes out of business. This agreement is the first-ever parental guarantee we’ve secured from a supplier with a bus purchase contract, regardless of fuel type.
Manufacturing and future fuels
Where are these buses manufactured? Are the parts sourced from the United States?
Our buses are manufactured in Saint-Eustache, Quebec with parts sourced from various suppliers around the world, including the United States.
How far off are hydrogen fueled buses?
Hydrogen fuel cell electric buses and hydrogen fueling are emerging markets. Compared to the fast-growing electric bus marketplace, there aren’t many hydrogen buses in production yet, and few options for refueling them. In the meantime, we’re assessing hydrogen fuel, and are taking part in a provincial project to test hydrogen buses.
Funded in part by
