Halifax launches 60 new electric buses into transit fleet

Halifax Celebrates Launch of 60 New Electric Transit Buses

Halifax recently introduced 60 new electric transit buses into service, marking a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions in the city. The launch took place at the Ragged Lake Transit Centre, where politicians, transit workers, and municipal staff gathered to celebrate the completion of the first phase of Halifax Regional Municipality’s zero-emission bus project.

The $112 million project, which received support from all levels of government, involved the procurement of 60 battery-powered electric buses from Nova Bus to replace diesel models. The Ragged Lake depot underwent expansion to accommodate the new buses and charging stations, with the addition of solar panels to the facility’s roof.

Anthony Edmonds, the project manager of fleet electrification for Halifax Transit, expressed his excitement about the milestone, stating, “It’s incredibly exciting. We’ve been working towards this for a long time and to finally be able to cut the ribbon on this new facility, I think it’s a big milestone for Halifax Transit. I think it’s a sign of more things to come and the start of a really bright, green future.”

The project was initially announced in 2021, with the first electric bus arriving in December 2023 for training and road testing. Despite concerns about electric vehicles struggling in winter weather, Halifax’s models are equipped with diesel auxiliary heaters to increase their range on extremely cold days.

The new buses feature a regenerative braking system, where hitting the brake pedal charges the battery powering the motor. Halifax anticipates that the electric buses will save approximately 2,800 tonnes of carbon emissions this year compared to diesel models, resulting in significant fuel savings.

With the same passenger capacity as diesel buses, passengers may not notice a difference when boarding an electric bus. However, the electric buses are quieter and eliminate the emission of diesel fumes, providing a more environmentally friendly and pleasant riding experience.

To ensure the safety of pedestrians with vision loss, each electric bus is equipped with an alerting system that emits “unobtrusive warning sounds” when the bus is moving slowly. Halifax Transit plans to deploy the buses throughout the network to assess their performance on various routes and terrains.

Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore expressed pride in being the first municipality in Atlantic Canada to introduce a large number of electric buses. The city aims to have around 200 zero-emission buses in the future, with plans to upgrade the Burnside Transit Centre to a net-zero facility by 2028.

In addition to electric buses, Halifax is exploring hydrogen fuel cells as part of its sustainability efforts. A pilot project to convert four diesel buses to a dual-fuel (hydrogen/diesel) system is set to commence in September and conclude by December 2026.

With a commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, Nova Scotia and Halifax are paving the way for sustainable and eco-friendly public transportation solutions.