CANADA: Funding has been announced for three projects to convert the bus fleet in the city of Guelph in Ontario to battery operation.
The first involves the replacement of 35 diesel buses with battery vehicles and the installation of on-route charging stations. The second is the purchase of a further 30 electric buses to increase capacity, and the third is the construction of a depot with space for up to 200 vehicles and charging stations.
The federal government is providing C$40m for the project through the Public Transit Infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, while Ontario is providing C$33m and the city C$104m.
‘Guelph is a fast-growing region, and our government is building Ontario together with our municipal partners by investing in transit infrastructure that will keep pace and build for the future’, said Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure, on January 16. ‘These projects will protect the environment, reduce congestion, improve commutes, connect neighbourhoods and businesses, and connect people to jobs.’
