The Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) has released the fifth edition of its Canadian Zero-Emissions Bus (ZEB) Database™, offering a snapshot of Canada’s progress in zero-emissions bus adoption as of July 2024. The report highlights key milestones, challenges, and strategies for reaching the national goal of 5,000 ZEBs by 2026, with projections that Canada may achieve 7,000 ZEBs by the end of that year if procurement processes are accelerated.
Key Findings:
- Canada currently has 5,459 ZEBs in various stages of deployment, with 5,370 being battery electric buses (BEBs) and 89 fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs).
- Ontario leads the way with 2,640 BEBs, followed by Quebec (1,612), Alberta (475), and British Columbia (456).
- Accelerating pre-procurement and procurement is crucial to stay on track with the 2026 target.
Dr. Josipa Petrunic, President & CEO of CUTRIC, emphasized that while significant progress has been made, challenges remain, particularly around high costs for electrification infrastructure and the emerging hydrogen supply chain. She noted that collaborative efforts, supported by initiatives like the federal Zero Emission Transit Fund, will be essential to overcome these barriers and achieve Canada’s zero-emissions goals.
Zero-emissions buses play a critical role in Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction strategy, as public transit accounts for one percent of transportation emissions, and the broader transportation sector represents 28 percent of Canada’s total GHG output. Encouraging transit use over personal vehicles and transitioning to ZEB technology can significantly reduce the heavy-duty sector’s carbon footprint.
As the National Planning Service for the federal Zero Emission Transit Fund, CUTRIC’s ZEB Database offers government agencies, transit organizations, and manufacturers a valuable tool for tracking the progress and challenges in electrifying Canada’s transit system, aiding in the nationwide shift to sustainable urban mobility.
As part of CUTRIC’s Knowledge Series publication program, the Canadian ZEB Database™ is a national database that monitors the Canadian Zero Emissions Bus (ZEB) landscape and quantifies the transition to full ZEB fleets. The report uses data from transit agencies, municipalities, crown corporations, private and public operators and the public domain to establish transit agencies’ and municipalities’ overall readiness and progress toward decarbonizing their fleets.
It covers the number, types, stages, provinces and manufacturers of ZEBs deployed across Canada. The report also highlights transit agencies’ issues and challenges in their decarbonization plans.
