Brampton, Ontario, took a significant step towards its goal of becoming the first Canadian city with a fully zero-emission transit fleet. The federal government has granted the city $1.1 million to facilitate the planning and electrification of the entire Brampton Transit system.

The funding will primarily support the development of a comprehensive strategy and rollout plan for transitioning the city’s entire fleet to zero-emission buses. This includes conducting cost and savings assessments, determining fleet and facility requirements, performing risk analysis, and creating models for efficient bus deployment.

Mayor Patrick Brown expressed his determination and emphasized that this investment plays a pivotal role in realizing the city’s aspiration to become a green city. He acknowledged that setting goals for climate change adaptation is one thing, but executing the plans to honor those goals is equally crucial.

By transitioning to zero-emission buses, Brampton aims to reduce approximately 115 tonnes of CO2 emissions per bus annually. This amounts to approximately 53,000 tonnes of emissions every year, equivalent to removing around 12,000 cars from the roads of Brampton.

To guide Brampton in the electrification of Brampton Transit, the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) will conduct a study using the provided funding. The study’s findings will inform the city on the best approach to proceed with the electrification process.

Brampton acknowledges that transitioning to a zero-emission transit system is a complex and costly endeavor. However, despite the challenges, the city has made notable progress and achieved one of the most advanced deployments of electric buses in Canada, according to CUTRIC President and CEO Josipa Petrunić.

In April of the previous year, Brampton secured a $400 million deal with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) to acquire 450 zero-emission buses over the next five years. This substantial commitment further demonstrates Brampton’s dedication to sustainable public transportation.

Brampton has been at the forefront of electric vehicle adoption. It was among the first municipalities in Canada to utilize Battery Electric Buses (BEBs) and witnessed the largest single global deployment of standardized and fully interoperable BEBs. Additionally, the city became the first in Ontario to introduce an electric-powered fire truck in 2022.

The electrification of transit buses represents a critical milestone for Brampton’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. By leveraging the federal investment and their ongoing efforts, the city is making significant progress towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.

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