Victoria's first electric transit bus to hit the road this fall
Victoria's first electric transit bus is scheduled to enter service this fall as BC Transit embarks on its goal of fielding an all-electric fleet provincewide by 2040.
The transit operator says it finalized a $20-million deal on May 16 to deliver 10 heavy-duty electric buses from U.S.-based zero-emission vehicle manufacturer Proterra.
The contract will allow BC Transit to purchase additional buses and chargers from the company, with up to 500 buses slated for replacement across B.C. over the next 10 years.
Proterra's electric bus manufacturing facility in Greenville, South Carolina. (Supplied/Proterra )
"This is an important first step toward BC Transit’s goal of achieving a zero-emission transit system by 2040," said B.C. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming in a statement Tuesday.
"Clean, green, efficient and affordable public transit is a key component of our government’s strategy to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions."
BC Transit says Proterra has a proven track record with more than 800 vehicles currently on the road, including school buses, delivery trucks and coach buses.
After Victoria's first electric bus is delivered this fall, BC Transit says the remaining buses will begin to be delivered in the summer of 2023.
Proterra buses feature zero tailpipe emissions, saving approximately 230,000 pounds of greenhouse gases annually when replacing a diesel bus, according to BC Transit.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.