TTC welcomes new battery-electric buses
This morning, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Minister Gary Anandasangaree joined Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto, Jamaal Myers, Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Board Chair and Greg Percy, Interim CEO, TTC, to officially welcome the first new battery-electric buses to the TTC’s eBus fleet.
In 2023, the federal government and the City of Toronto announced a joint investment of $700 million towards the electrification of the TTC’s bus fleet. These two new eBuses are the first of 340 battery-electric vehicles which will be received by the TTC by the end of 2026.
Once all 340 vehicles are received, the TTC will have a total eBus fleet of 400, by far the largest in North America. The funding is also supporting upgrades to install chargers and related infrastructure in seven bus garages.
“Our government knows improving public transit is essential to ensuring our economy reaches its full potential. That is why we are delivering unprecedented investments in reliable and sustainable public transit infrastructure. Today’s arrival of the TTC’s new all-electric buses—just one of the many ways we are helping the TTC grow—will make Torontonians’ commutes quicker and cleaner.” said the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
“Public transit is vital to the well-being and daily lives of commuters across the Greater Toronto Area,” said the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Member of Parliament for Scarborough—Rouge Park. “These two buses are the first of 340 new electric vehicles that will be making their way onto the streets by next year and into 2026. Through investing in sustainable public transit technologies, we are making communities across the country cleaner, quieter, and better connected.”
“Canada is a leader in the fight against climate change – developing and implementing innovative, clean technologies that help to reduce carbon emissions,” said the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Scarborough Southwest. “The arrival of these two all-electric, made-in-Canada buses in Toronto is an important step towards the electrification of the City’s transit fleet and achieving a cleaner, prosperous future for everyone.”
“Reliable, environmentally-friendly public transit has been a priority for me since day one," said Mayor Olivia Chow. “I am pleased to work with our partners in the federal government to invest in cleaner and greener transit infrastructure. I look forward to seeing the new battery-electric buses on the streets of our city.”
“Zero-emissions vehicles are the future of sustainable transit,” said TTC Chair, Jamaal Myers. “With these two new battery-electric buses, the TTC continues to increase its fleet of environmentally friendly vehicles and make significant strides towards a zero-emissions future. I want to thank the Government of Canada and the City of Toronto for their partnership and support.”
“These two new battery-electric buses, and the additional eBuses that will be received by 2026, are significant contributors to our goal of being completely zero-emissions by 2040,” said Greg Percy, TTC Interim CEO. “We are proud to be paving the way for transit electrification across North America, and bringing new, clean, quiet vehicles to customers and employees across the City of Toronto.”
The TTC is a leader in zero emissions fleet management in North America and is now procuring only all-electric buses. These new battery-electric buses are being manufactured by New Flyer Industries Canada and Nova Bus. Once all 340 eBuses are received, battery-electric buses will make up approximately 20 per cent of the TTC's entire bus fleet and will serve communities all over the city. The TTC continues to work towards electrifying its entire operations by 2040.