The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and PowerON Energy Solutions unveiled 10 newly commissioned, battery-electric bus (eBus) charging pantographs as part of a proof of concept at Birchmount Garage, expanding the TTC's charging capacity.

The new pantographs will support overhead charging, delivering electricity from a centralized power source to chargers mounted above battery-electric buses. This transit charging system is the first phase of a 20-year agreement between the TTC and PowerON.

"The City of Toronto is proud to support this innovative eBus charging system here in Scarborough as part of the work underway to make sure our TTC fleet is cleaner and greener," said Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie. "This new system is good news for our transit system and our environment just ahead of Earth Day. Expanding the TTC's charging capacity is crucial to our plans to have a completely green fleet in the future and we won't get there without the continued cooperation and commitment of all our government partners."

Under the agreement, PowerON designs, builds, co-invests in, owns, and operates charging infrastructure to electrify the TTC's bus fleet and facilities.

The TTC said it will transition its bus fleet to 100% zero emissions by 2040 or sooner.

"We're very excited about this new charging infrastructure, as the overhead chargers are more compact, and will allow us to charge more eBuses faster, in more locations," said TTC CEO Rick Leary. "With additional hybrid-electric buses joining our existing fleet over the next few months, and the eBuses that will follow, we are bringing more environmentally friendly and quieter vehicles to even more routes across the city."