The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) launched the first of its all-electric buses into service on the 35 Jane route.

The bus, manufactured by New Flyer Industries Inc., arrived in Toronto in April and has since undergone testing and commissioning as well as operator training. It is the first of 60 electric buses the TTC will have by the first quarter of 2020, making up one of the largest mini-fleets of electric buses in North America.

The TTC will have 60 eBuses delivered by the end of Q1 2020. In addition to New Flyer, the TTC is also procuring electric buses from Proterra Inc. and BYD, allowing the TTC to inform future procurement through a head-to-head evaluation.

The TTC is working with partners at Toronto Hydro and Panasonic Eco Solutions Canada to prepare for the arrival of the new vehicles by performing hydro service upgrades, installing switchgear and transformers to lay the groundwork for the installation of chargers and retrofitting the garages to be all-electric. This also includes conducting electrical and civil construction upgrades, providing supporting infrastructure for the bus garage (e.g., substation, backup generator and related equipment).

The electrification of vehicles is a key component of the City's TransformTO climate action strategy, which targets an 80% reduction in local greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. To meet that target, 100% of vehicles in Toronto must transition to low-carbon energy by 2050. The electrification of buses is an example of the City's commitment to lead by example. Vehicles generate about one-third of the emissions in Toronto today.

The TTC’s new eBuses operate on truly green propulsion technology with zero tailpipe emissions. In Ontario, generation of electricity for overnight charging is 100% nuclear and completely free of GHG emissions.

The Government of Canada and the City of Toronto are investing $140 million in the electric buses as part of the federal Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF). This fund is helping keep Torontonians moving through investments in the repair, modernization, and expansion of the city’s transit and active transportation networks. In total, up to $1.8 billion is being invested in Toronto through PTIF, which was launched in August 2016.