Durham Region Transit Introduces Six Electric Buses
Durham Region Transit (DRT) has introduced six new electric buses as part of its E-Mission Zero program, aimed at achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2037. The buses are supplied by Nova Bus and will be based at the Oshawa depot, where dedicated chargers installed by EnerFORGE will support their operations.
Funding Details
- The purchase of the electric buses and associated infrastructure was funded by $12.1 million from the Canada Community-Building Fund, which is administered by Infrastructure Canada.
- DRT has also signed a credit agreement with the Canada Infrastructure Bank for low-interest financing of up to $62 million to purchase an additional 98 electric buses over the next four years.
Operational Plans
- The new electric buses will initially serve high-demand routes, such as the PULSE routes, and will be assessed for operational performance. Each bus has a range of at least 225 kilometers before needing to return to the garage.
Quotes
- John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "These new electric buses are a critical step in our journey towards a zero-emission future."
- Marilyn Crawford, Regional Councillor and Chair of the Transit Executive Committee, expressed gratitude for the federal government's partnership in this project.
- Bill Holmes, General Manager of DRT, noted that the introduction of these buses will help reduce the carbon footprint while providing reliable service to the growing ridership.
