Electric fleet something to consider
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/01/2024 (604 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The report on Brandon’s bus fleet (The Brandon Sun, Jan. 20) did not suggest a transition to electric buses. However, this should be how the city moves.
With a 12- to 17-year lifespan for a bus, new units acquired in 2026 would still be in service in 2040, when automobiles will increasingly be electric and senior level governments might be less generous for late adopters. At present, this proven technology is being adopted in other Prairie cities with senior government grants, energy-related savings, cleaner air and quieter operation acting as incentives to opt for an electric bus fleet.
Winnipeg and Regina are already transitioning to electric bus fleets with new units rolling in 2024; along with new infrastructure in their transit garages for charging and maintenance on electric motors. Winnipeg’s efforts are backed by federal and provincial grants that offset a cost differential for the electric buses and assist with new infrastructure.
Regina has only federal funding, but CTV News Regina reported last March that the federal government is to provide $26.1 million through the Zero Emission Transit Fund, roughly half the cost of 26 new electric buses, as well as $23 million to cover the cost of infrastructure upgrades. Brandon’s fleet is reported as 17 buses.
The electric buses are the same as existing transit fleets with low-floor design and passenger capacities. In Saskatoon, an electric bus entering service this year, as a trial, has an estimated range of 278 kilometres on a five-hour charge. Fuel cost savings of $27,500 per year are estimated compared to a diesel-powered bus.
Transitions are not without issues, as several early adopting transit systems have faced design and operational issues with California-based Proterra electric buses; made worse by that company’s recent bankruptcy process. In contrast, a couple of Canadian companies are growing their zero-emission bus offerings and racking up sales across North America, including Winnipeg-based New Flyer Inc., with manufacturing plants in Winnipeg and the U.S.
As the City of Brandon considers replacing an aging bus fleet, the current availability of financial support from senior level governments, the adoption of electric buses in other Prairie cities, and the availability of this new, clean, quiet transit option makes a strong case for Brandon making an electric bus transition.
ANDREW LANE
Brandon