Vancouver’s TransLink is taking another step in electrifying its bus fleet, with the introduction of a new type of battery-electric bus.

The new Nova LFSe+ Electric bus is the first of 15 new buses that will more than quadruple TransLink’s battery-electric bus fleet from four to 19 over the next year.

The new Nova LFSe+ Electric bus:

• Can travel approximately 94 miles on a single charge.

• Can be topped up by on-route overhead chargers in approximately five minutes.

• Will save TransLink around $40,000 in fuel costs annually per bus.

• Will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 1,000 tons annually once all 15 buses are in operation.

The expansion is a critical step toward achieving climate targets outlined in TransLink’s Climate Action Strategy and Transport 2050: 10-Year Priorities. Some of these targets include adding more than 400 new battery-electric buses by 2030, transitioning to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040, and having net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in all operations by 2050.

Over the coming months, TransLink will order more battery-electric buses as well as the necessary charging infrastructure to support them on more routes.

“Electrifying our bus fleet and moving to renewable fuels are the fastest ways TransLink can reduce GHG emissions to help combat climate change,” said Kevin Quinn, CEO at TransLink. “Taking transit is already one of the best ways people can reduce their carbon footprint, but through electrification and the actions outlined in our Climate Action Strategy, we’re working to reduce our impact on the climate to zero.”

This $16 million investment towards 15 new battery-electric buses has come from the Canada Community–Building Fund, which is administered in British Columbia by the Union of B.C. Municipalities. The Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia have committed to supporting the future electrification of TransLink’s fleet through significant investments in TransLink’s 2022 Investment Plan.