Transit studies on eco-friendly buses in Brampton and Burlington get federal funding boost

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Published July 5, 2022 at 4:28 pm

brampton_electric_bus
Similar to this one in Brampton, Burlington may have electric buses on city streets by 2024.

Brampton and Burlington’s electrified and hydrogen-fueled vehicles will help the rubber meet the road for studies on the impact of eco-friendly transit vehicles.

Brampton North MP Ruby Sahota announced $175,000 in funding on Tuesday (July 5) through the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) to support a study on Brampton Transit’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet ridership demand.

CUTRIC is conducting a feasibility study to assess zero tailpipe-emission buses (ZEBs) on Brampton Transit’s route network, supporting the city’s efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting future ridership demand for public transit.

An additional $78,000 will also go to support the City of Burlington’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, with a second study analyzing emissions associated with transitioning Burlington Transit’s fleet to hydrogen fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs).

RELATED: Brampton Transit launches brand new electric buses

Both studies are being performed using CUTRIC’s predictive modelling, which includes route maps, transit schedules, weather, and passenger-loading to determine the feasibility and benefits of adopting ZEBs and FCEBs.

For the City of Brampton, the electrification of transit buses is “a critical milestone” in reducing greenhouse gases generated in Brampton by 80 per cent by 2050.

Adding to the current fleet of 133 diesel-electric hybrid Züm buses, Brampton Transit introduced the first eight battery electric zero emission buses and four high-powered overhead opportunity chargers in May 2021.

The city says transitioning the full fleet to ZEBs could save approximately 115 tonnes of CO2 per bus every year, for approximately 53,000 tonnes annually – that’s the equivalent of removing about 12,000 passenger vehicles from the roads.

Funding for the studies comes from an endowment by the Government of Canada and the Green Municipal Fund.

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