Ottawa's buses are going electric; here's what it's like to ride one
OC Transpo buses are going electric, with a plan to make the entire fleet zero-emission. So, what’s it like to be a passenger?
Ottawa currently has four electric buses, but there is a plan for more.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
A report prepared for the City of Ottawa's Transit Commission says that OC Transpo's electric buses are performing as well as the existing diesel vehicles, allaying concerns about the future transition to a fully electric fleet.
This follows a previous report last May that showed the battery-electric buses "met or surpassed" the range and efficiency promised by the manufacturer.
“After two years in service, our electric busses have accumulated over 500,000 kilometres and saved approximately 25,000 litres of fuel per bus in 2023. They have also proven reliable,” Program Manager of Capital Projects and Engineering Daniel Villeneuve told the city's Transit Commission Monday.
The city is going all in. Approximately 700 diesel-powered buses will be phased out by 2036, starting with around 350 going electric over the next three years.
“The eventual plan is to, as per the climate change master plan, is to convert all OC Transpo buses to zero emission,” Villeneuve tells CTV News Ottawa.
He says it is better for the environment and has lower fuel costs, but is going electric actually cheaper?
“To be the determined. The goal is yes, that on the maintenance there's a savings and also on the energy itself. Going from diesel to electric, we are anticipating a savings,” says Villeneuve.
Electric buses also cost more to buy. The city says it has budgeted $1.4 million per bus – compared to the cost of a diesel bus, which was around $700,000 years ago, when new.
Passenger experience
OC Transpo allowed CTV News to ride an electric bus recently. It’s fairly similar to being a passenger on a regular bus – and some may not even realize it; except for one thing that’s missing, the sound of the diesel engine.
The lack of engine noise has caused the city to install “white noise” generators on the exterior of the bus.
“That operates when the bus is a slow-moving, below 30 kilometers. So as they pull up to a station, you know, if there's pedestrians, cyclists and so on, it's for safety and also for accessible feature,” says Villeneuve.
While the bus is powered by electricity, there is a diesel-powered heater on board. Villeneuve tells CTV News it turns on when the temperature gets below 5 degrees Celsius.
OC Transpo says it is also adding more chargers and other upgrades at the St. Laurent bus garage, along with a planned boost to the power grid.
“We are in partnership with Hydro Ottawa to when they'll bring in a temporary service as we transition and a permanent connection as they build their new offsite substation to support the electricity required for the program,” says Villeneuve.
There will also be two natural gas-powered back-up generators, to charge buses in the event of a power outage.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Freeland tables motion previewing omnibus budget bill
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass the sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
BREAKING Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
Judge raises threat of jail in hush money trial as he holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. And if he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
Court upholds Milwaukee police officer's firing for posting racist memes after Sterling Brown arrest
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a former Milwaukee police officer was properly fired for posting racist memes related to the arrest of an NBA player that triggered a public outcry.
Video captures deadly wrong-way police chase on Highway 401 in Ontario
A new video has surfaced showing a vehicle being pursued by police in the wrong direction on Highway 401 moments prior to a fatal crash that killed four people, including an infant and their grandparents.
New cancer treatment approved, but not everyone thinks it's what's best for patients
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.