A $2.1 billion agreement between Quebec City and Ottawa and Novas Bus has been reached, adding 1,229 electric buses in Canada.

Largest implementation in North America

This project would become the largest purchase of electric buses in North America. This will result in a reduction of 930,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. In Quebec, ten public transit organizations are joining forces to acquire these electric buses.

“This is the largest electric bus acquisition project in North America. It is an incredible vote of confidence in the Quebec economy,” said federal Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc in a release.

The initial order includes 339 long-range battery-electric LFSe + 40-foot model buses, with a component to purchase an additional 890 vehicles. The value of the base addition is $583 million. The range of the buses is approximately 200 miles.

Transit authorities affected

Société de transport de Montréal (STM)
Réseau de transport métropolitain (RSM)
Société de transport de Laval (STL)
Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC)
Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL)
Société de transport de Lévis (STL)
Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO)
Société de transport de Sherbrooke (STS)
Service de Transport en Commun de Trois-Rivières (STTR)
Société de transport du Saguenay (STS)

Positive plans

The vehicles will be built in Nova Bus’ Quebec facilities. They will contain at least 25% Canadian-made or Canadian-acquired parts and will be delivered between 2025 and 2027.

The agreement brings the federal and Quebec governments closer to their zero-emission bus adoption targets. Canada has committed to purchasing 5,000 zero-emission buses by 2026, while Quebec’s Plan 2030 for a Green Economy states that by 2030, electric buses should represent 55% of all transit buses.

“This milestone is a sign that all stakeholders in the transportation sector are working together to fight climate change and we at Nova Bus are proud of our commitment to this historic transition,” said Ralph Acs, President of Nova Bus, about the addition of electric buses in Canada.

With information from AVEQ.