The Canadian government has committed $350 million (240 million euros) to the city of Ottawa to purchase 350 electric buses and install the necessary charging infrastructure.
The Ottawa City Council will consider the budget proposal on February 25th, and if approved, procurement of the zero-emission buses and charging infrastructure will begin. The plan includes building a new electric bus depot and equipping two existing depots with charging stations.
The city aims to have 450 electric buses in operation by 2027 and to fully convert its public transportation fleet, operated by OC Transpo, to electric buses by 2036.
“Any investment in public transit in Ottawa is an investment in the environment. With the new funding for our zero-emissions bus program the Government of Canada is contributing to these shared and critical priorities,” says Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. “These new buses will help OC Transpo continue its work towards reducing greenhouse gases and convert our fleet to zero-emission electric fuel.”
The City of Ottawa plans to replace its diesel-powered buses with electric buses in its public transit fleet. This includes installing charging infrastructure, building a new storage facility and upgrading two existing ones, and purchasing additional equipment for maintenance and operation.
This initiative aligns with the City’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100% by 2040 and shows a commitment to leading by example. The goal is for OC Transpo to have a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2036, through the gradual phase-out of diesel buses as they reach the end of their life cycle.
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