First of 15 new TransLink battery-electric buses arrive in Metro Vancouver

Credit: TransLink

TransLink has announced that the first of 15 of its new battery-electric buses have arrived in Metro Vancouver. Over the next few months, Nova Bus and Coast Mountain Bus Company will test the buses and prepare them for service, which is expected to begin in early 2023.

Once all 15 buses are in service, it will fully electrify TransLink’s 100 22nd Street/Marpole Loop route and quadruple the size of its battery-electric bus fleet. This marks a leap forward in its journey towards net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a more climate-resilient transit system by 2050, as part of the agency’s Climate Action Strategy.

TransLink’s long-term goal is to introduce 400 new battery-electric buses to its fleet by 2030 and to fully transition to zero-emission vehicles by 2040. Each battery-electric bus emits roughly 70 tonnes less GHG emissions annually compared to a diesel bus.

Transport’s journey to net zero: Electrification will drive our transition to a carbon-free future, says TransLink

In early 2022, the agency tested a prototype of the bus to ensure its long-term effectiveness for Metro Vancouver. Following the tests, TransLink has found that the new battery-electric bus model is more flexible in how often it needs to be charged. The bus can travel more than 150km on a single charge, even during winter months, while the current battery-electric bus that is in service can only travel about 40km on a single charge.

Currently, TransLink operates two charging stations located at the 22nd Street Station bus exchange and the Marple Loop. These on-route overhead fast-charge stations ensure that the buses can be continuously recharged and operate throughout the day. The charging stations:

• Top up the battery-electric buses for the next trip in under six minutes
• Can charge buses while passengers are on-board
• Use an automated overhead mechanism that charges vehicles quickly through the bus roof.