The City of Regina in Saskatchewan is forging ahead with its commitment to electrify Regina Transit by finalizing a five-year contract with Nova Bus, a subsidiary of the Volvo Group. The deal involves the acquisition of 53 battery electric city buses as part of the city’s broader strategy to become a 100% renewable city by 2050.
Nova Bus, based in Quebec, is recognized for manufacturing long-range electric buses equipped with substantial battery packs, reaching up to 564 kWh in its largest models. The company offers options for both DC fast-charging and overhead wire charging.
The initial phase of the agreement will see the delivery of seven LFSe+ 40-foot, long-range buses to the City of Regina in early 2025, amounting to $10.8 million (Canadian). Subsequently, an additional 13 buses are scheduled for delivery later in 2025 at a cost of $22.4 million. The city plans to allocate $21.2 million for facility upgrades and infrastructure enhancements to accommodate the electric buses.
Brad Bells, Director of Transit and Fleet at the City of Regina, stated, “These will be the first battery-electric buses in Regina Transit’s fleet,” emphasizing the contribution to the city’s ambition of achieving a 100% renewable status by 2050.
While the total cost for 2024 and 2025 stands at $53.7 million, the federal government is extending support through the Zero Emission Transit Fund (ZETF), providing Regina Transit with $26.85 million, covering 50% of the overall cost. This support reduces the city’s financial commitment to $26.85 million for both years.
Regina, a longstanding customer of Nova Bus, has been instrumental in advancing the company’s efforts toward decarbonization. The city had previously incorporated Nova Bus’s hybrid-electric city buses into its transit fleet last year. The remainder of the 33 electric buses from the current deal is slated for purchase post-2025, aligning with the City of Regina’s annual budget and fleet requirements.
