VICTORIA — Merran Smith, executive director of Clean Energy Canada, made the following statement in response to new public transit funding from the federal and B.C. governments that includes money for 10 long-range electric buses in Victoria.
“When it comes to electrifying how we move around in Canada, personal vehicles are only half the picture. There are, for example, the trucks that move goods and the buses that move people. And together, they represent a big opportunity for Canada both to cut our carbon footprint and to bolster leading Canadian companies.
“In May, Canada and the province of B.C. both made the Drive to Zero pledge, committing to the adoption of more zero-emission commercial vehicles, like buses and trucks. Two months later, it’s encouraging to see an announcement turning those words into action, with funding set aside for 10 all-electric, long-range electric buses in Victoria.
“Despite being home to four leading electric bus manufacturers, Canadian cities have not adopted the technology as quickly as a number of jurisdictions in California, Europe, and China. Drive to Zero is a deliberate effort to speed up the adoption of cleaner, less wasteful commercial vehicles.
“After all, Canadians are now feeling the effects of climate change firsthand, and with roughly a quarter of emissions coming from transportation, electric buses represent a solution in more ways than one. They’re electric and clean, they’re far more efficient than passenger cars, and many are built by Canadians working at Canadian companies.”
KEY FACTS
- In May, the governments of Canada, B.C., and Vancouver, along with Vancouver transit provider TransLink, all agreed to increase the use of low- and zero-emission commercial vehicles by making the Drive to Zero pledge.
- 13% of the world’s bus fleet is already electric.
- Over 99% of the world’s electric buses are in China.
- Sales of electric buses increased by 40% between 2016 and 2017.
- By 2030, an electric bus will be the same price as a diesel bus, while also saving hundreds of thousands on fuel costs over the bus’s lifetime, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
- There are four electric bus manufacturers in Canada: GreenPower Motor Company, The Lion Electric Company, New Flyer Industries, and Nova Bus.
RESOURCES
Report | Will Canada Miss the Bus?
