Canada, Halifax: 60 e-buses to be procured, full electrification of the bus fleet by 2028

The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia are investing in e-buses and charging infrastructures with the goal of kicking off the electrification of Halifax transit bus fleet. 60 zero emissions vehicles are expected. The municipality is pursuing full electrification of the bus fleet (340 vehicles) by 2028.

A total of $112 million will be invested to expand the Ragged Lake Transit Centre and start the electrification the Halifax transit fleet. The project involves purchasing 60 electric buses with battery packs, the first in Atlantic Canada, and the associated charging equipment in addition to expanding the Ragged Lake Transit Centre to accommodate the new fleet. The facility will also undergo a deep energy retrofit to achieve a net-zero standard. The addition of renewable solar energy and storage capacity will help make the transit system more resilient.

The electrification of the Halifax Transit fleet is vital to our commitments to climate action. Today’s investment brings us much closer to the modernization of a public transit service that will reliably and sustainably meet the needs of a growing community and make taking transit a better choice for more people

Mike Savage, Mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality

Halifax transit bus fleet to be electrified

The Government of Canada is investing $44.8 million in this project through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) of the Investing in Canada program. The Government of Nova Scotia is providing more than $37.3 million, and Halifax Regional Municipality is contributing $29.8 million.

This investment supports federal, provincial and municipal targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for a greener future. It also supports the city’s Transforming Transit strategy to create a more convenient, cost-effective and environmentally responsible transit system for all residents.

Recently, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for South Shore—St. Margarets, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Iain Rankin, Premier of Nova Scotia; and His Worship Mike Savage, Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality, announced a combined $112 million investment to expand the Ragged Lake Transit Centre and start the electrification the Halifax transit fleet. Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and Member of Parliament for Halifax, was also in attendance.

«The electrification of the Halifax Transit fleet is vital to our commitments to climate action»

“We continue to aggressively pursue action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Expanding Halifax Transit’s fleet to include new electric buses will not only improve the capacity of public transit, but it will help us achieve our ambitious climate change goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. It puts us at the forefront of transit electrification in Atlantic Canada”, said Iain Rankin, Premier of Nova Scotia

“The electrification of the Halifax Transit fleet is vital to our commitments to climate action. Today’s investment brings us much closer to the modernization of a public transit service that will reliably and sustainably meet the needs of a growing community and make taking transit a better choice for more people”, added Mike Savage, Mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality.

“This project represents a huge step forward in propelling our transit system towards a greener future. It signifies a major investment in electric transit buses which will reduce operating costs as well as help the environment” said Bill Cutler, Director, Transit Fleet, Halifax Transit