Electric Shuttle Bus Pilot Project
Updated October 2024
We spend a lot of time on the road, and incorporating lower-emission technology is an important step to reducing Calgary Transit's carbon footprint.
As our old diesel and gas-powered buses reach the end of life, we are diversifying and modernizing our fleet. This means adding vehicles powered by a number of different sources, including compressed natural gas, electric and gas-powered vehicles, in addition to diesel.
What’s the latest update?
After a competitive procurement process, we contracted Vicinity Motor Corporation in June 2021 to supply shuttles for the pilot. However, we ended the contract earlier this year due to unmet expectations, without any payment made. We remain committed to the pilot and are now seeking a new supplier. A request for proposal for five to seven battery electric shuttle buses will be posted within the next two quarters.
About our Electric Shuttle Bus Pilot project
Calgary Transit is moving to a fleet of zero-emission buses to support The City’s corporate-emission reduction goals in the Calgary Climate Strategy- Pathways to 2050. Our fleet transition includes a project to deploy several 40-foot battery electric buses (BEBs). To prepare for BEB operations, we’re moving forward with an electric shuttle bus pilot project to put battery electric buses on the road.
Battery electric bus benefits
By replacing end-of-life diesel buses with battery electric buses (BEBs), we aim to provide Calgarians with clean, quiet, and comfortable rides while reducing pollution, noise and exhaust. We expect BEBs to offer the following benefits:
Reduced Emissions: BEBs are projected to reduce our total fleet greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 8,500 tonnes of CO2 annually at project completion.
Lower Operating Costs: BEBs are less costly to maintain and operate over their lifespan compared to conventional diesel buses, thanks to reduced fuel and maintenance costs.
Alignment with Environmental Goals: Transitioning to BEBs is a core part of our commitment to lowering fleet emissions and advancing Calgary Transit’s sustainability initiatives, supporting the city’s broader climate goals.
How is this project being funded?
By taking advantage of funding contributions from other levels of government and incorporating all kinds of different fuel sources, we expect to be able to provide clean, quieter and more comfortable rides with less pollution, noise, and exhaust and lower operating costs.
The estimated total project costs for the electric bus shuttle pilot project are $14 million, with $7 million provided by the Government of Alberta’s Emissions Reduction Alberta grant program.
Anticipated project timeline
- June 2021 – Vicinity Motor Corporation awarded contract to supply 14 units following competitive procurement
- April 2024 – Contractual relations ended with supplier (with no funds paid) due to concerns about supplier’s ability, commitment to deliver quality units in a timely manner
- Before end of 2024 – New request for proposal issued seeking five to seven battery electric shuttles
- Q1 2025 – Contract awarded to new vehicle supplier
- Q2 2026 – New vehicles arrive
- Q3 2026 – Commence shuttle pilot phase
- Q3 2027 – Final report, results of pilot
Project video
Emissions Reduction Alberta created this video about our project. Calgary Transit’s Sharon Fleming discusses the project’s purpose and how it supports The City’s push toward low-carbon vehicle technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
FAQs
Why is Calgary Transit testing electric shuttle buses instead of full-sized 40-foot electric buses?
While there is extensive data supporting the successful operation of larger BEBs, we chose to pilot shuttles due to their cost-effectiveness and the opportunity to gain new insights for the industry. As we work towards a zero-emission fleet and net-zero status by 2050, it's essential to plan for a future transition of shuttles as well, making early trials valuable.
Does this mean Calgary Transit will eventually have an entirely electric bus fleet?
No. While we're introducing Battery Electric Buses into our operations, we’ll continue to purchase new 40-foot diesel buses, compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, and gas-powered 28-foot community shuttles. Our goal is to maintain a diversified fleet that includes electric buses to help reduce emissions where possible.
What battery electric shuttles are you using for your pilot project?
We haven’t determined which battery electric shuttle buses we’ll use. We plan to post a request for proposal to buy five to seven battery electric shuttle buses by year-end 2024.
Why is it taking longer than expected to get the battery electric shuttles for the pilot project?
After a competitive procurement process, we contracted Vicinity Motor Corporation in June 2021 to supply shuttles for the pilot and provided sufficient time for delivery. When it became clear the arrangement would not meet our expectations, we ended the contract earlier this year without paying any funds to Vicinity.
We’re committed to completing the pilot and we’re now back in the market to find a new shuttle supplier. We plan to post a request for proposal to buy five to seven battery electric shuttle buses within the next two quarters.
Can Calgary Transit source both battery electric shuttle buses and 40-foot battery electric buses from the same supplier?
That's unlikely, as there are currently no North America suppliers that produce both the battery electric shuttles and 40-foot battery electric buses we need for our projects. We would consider electric bus manufacturers in Europe that produce both shuttles and 40-foot buses, providing their vehicles meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards required by Transport Canada.
What changes can we expect in Calgary Transit’s vehicle fleet by 2027?
By 2027, our fleet will mainly consist of CNG, battery electric, and gasoline-powered vehicles, with diesel vehicles reduced from 48% to around 30% of the total fleet.
What infrastructure have you installed for the pilot? Where is it located?
We’ve installed 14 electric bus charging stations inside our Springs Gardens garage, which stores and dispatches our existing shuttle fleet and has capacity to accommodate 14 battery electric shuttles. The charging stations enable us to simultaneously charge 14 battery electric shuttles.
The chargers deliver fast charging and need only about two hours to fully charge shuttles. Special charge management system software enables us to monitor battery status while the shuttle is on route and when it’s charging inside our garage.
The charging cabinets and dispensers were supplied by ABB, a leading global technology company. Engineering firm Burns & McDonnell supplied, designed and installed the charging equipment.
Our Spring Gardens garage (located at 928 32 Avenue N.E.), opened in 1975 and expanded in 2015, includes body, machine, and heavy-duty mechanical shops as well as an administration office.