TransLink is expanding its battery-electric bus fleet by more than 100 buses, with the approval of significant funding by Metro Vancouver’s Board of Directors. This investment will improve bus service for customers by supporting long-term service growth, expanding charging capabilities, and diversifying the transit fleet.
The newly allocated $479 million will enable the replacement of aging diesel buses with new battery-electric models and support the infrastructure needed to store and charge the fleet. This will ensure TransLink can continue to deliver reliable service for more customers across the region.
“We know that part of a healthy, livable region is a strong public transportation system,” said Mike Hurley, Chair, Metro Vancouver’s Board of Directors. “That’s why municipalities in this region support transportation by pooling our federal funds and prioritizing low-carbon transit solutions to help build a cleaner, more connected future for everyone in Metro Vancouver.”
Breakdown of new investments:
- 102 new battery-electric buses to replace aging diesel buses
- 64 additional bus chargers and upgrades at the Port Coquitlam Transit Centre
- Testing a 60-foot electric trolley bus with in-motion charging capability
TransLink currently has 19 battery-electric buses with 57 more Nova LFSe+ battery-electric buses on the way, as well as 10 on-route overhead chargers. This unprecedented expansion would support the growth of TransLink’s fleet from 19 battery-electric buses to 178 by 2030.
“TransLink is grateful for this investment in our battery-electric bus fleet, which will allow us to improve service for our customers,” said Kevin Quinn, CEO, TransLink. “We are now set up to replace aging diesel buses with a diversified fleet that will serve our customers efficiently and sustainably.”
TransLink continues to build new infrastructure to support future fleet electrification. This includes building a new transit center, upgrading an existing transit center, and adding new on-route charging stations.
The investment is allocated by the Metro Vancouver Regional District through the federal government’s Canada Community Building Fund (CCBF), which is administered by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM). Since 2005, Metro Vancouver’s member jurisdictions have voluntarily pooled their federal funding from CCBF to support major regional transit investments like climate-resilient transportation.
Electrifying facts:
- The 102 new battery-electric buses will reduce TransLink’s greenhouse gas emissions by 8,200 tonnes annually and more than 140,000 tonnes over their lifespan.
- On-route charging stations can top up buses in just five minutes, enabling all day service.
- TransLink operates the second largest fleet of fully electric trolleybuses in North America with 262 buses.
- The SkyTrain is also a fully electric transit service.