TTC begins first phase of electrifying bus fleet with eBus charging system
by CM staff
The TTC will transition its bus fleet to 100 per cent zero emissions by 2040 or sooner.
TORONTO — The TTC and PowerON Energy Solutions were joined by Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie, as they unveiled ten battery-electric bus (eBus) charging pantographs as part of a proof of concept at Birchmount Garage, expanding the TTC’s charging capacity.
The pantographs will support overhead charging, delivering electricity from a centralized power source to chargers mounted above battery-electric buses. This transit charging system is the first phase of a 20-year agreement between the TTC and Ontario Power Generation subsidiary, PowerON Energy Solutions.
“The City of Toronto is proud to support this innovative eBus charging system here in Scarborough as part of the work underway to make sure our TTC fleet is cleaner and greener,” said Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie. “This new system is good news for our transit system and our environment just ahead of Earth Day. Expanding the TTC’s charging capacity is crucial to our plans to have a completely green fleet in the future and we won’t get there without the continued cooperation and commitment of all our government partners.”
Under the agreement, PowerON designs, builds, co-invests in, owns, and operates charging infrastructure to electrify the TTC’s bus fleet and facilities.
“Ontario’s clean electricity grid is ready to support the electrification of public transit, the transportation sector and beyond,” said Todd Smith, Ontario’s Minister of Energy. “I’m pleased that Ontario Power Generation subsidiary PowerON has led the installation of this state-of-the-art charging technology that will help the City of Toronto reduce emissions and deliver a greener, healthier public transportation system, getting people to work, school and home.”
This Birchmount proof of concept is funded by the City of Toronto, who have contributed over five million dollars to the project. The TTC will use the system to gather and evaluate reliability and operations data prior to broader deployment. The TTC will transition its bus fleet to 100 per cent zero emissions by 2040 or sooner.
