Ottawa’s bus fleet is going to get greener next year, as the city plans on adding more zero-emission buses (ZEB).
According to an update to the Transit Commission, the agency plans on adding 102 buses to the fleet by the first quarter of 2026. Ottawa signed agreements with New Flyer and Nova Bus to add 51 ZEBs over the next year, with the first shipment coming late 2024.
Employees continue to be trained to support the facilities in preparation for the expanded fleet, staff said. The update comes four years after council approved the Climate Change Master Plan and committed to reducing the city’s greenhouse gas emissions to 2012 levels by 2040. One of the largest contributors to emissions is diesel-powered buses.
The update also mentioned how after two years in service, the electric buses are performing well, including driving distances more than 200 kilometres regularly, and withstanding all the valley weather thrown at them.
The buses have a target mileage of 55,000 kilometres per bus per year. Last year the fleet exceeded the target.
“In 2024, the electric buses continue to exceed the monthly targets and are projected to exceed the 2024 annual target,” staff note.
In order to make the procurement of electric buses viable for the city, infrastructure work continues with the installation of necessary electrical and building updates. Phase 1 of the St. Laurent South Garage project was mostly completed in July, with more electrical projects set to finish in 2026.
The North Garage project is finalizing designs and is set to be complete by mid-2026.
“Once both the civil infrastructure and electrical infrastructure projects are completed, the North Garage will have the capacity to park and charge 104 electric buses,” the update reads.