Milton Transit is projected to fully transition to a fleet of battery-electric buses by 2040.
That’s according to the transit agency’s zero-emission bus feasibility strategy and fleet transition plan, which assesses the viability of shifting away from diesel buses to battery-electric ones.
Making the greener transition is inevitable, said Tony D’Alessandro, director of transit services with the Town, who shared the strategy with council members earlier this month.
“It’s less about if, and more about how and when we can adopt this technology,” D’Alessandro said.
The fleet transition plan outlines the procurement of both diesel and battery-electric buses through 2028 to ensure service predictability and reliability, while allowing experience with battery-electric technology. Full procurement of electric buses is proposed starting from 2029.
The report states the full adoption would reduce cumulative greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 76,900 tonnes over the study period to 2040.
Although an electric bus is about $1 million more expensive than its diesel counterpart, Milton Transit anticipates an average saving of $27,000 per unit in operational costs, according to the report.
In response to Coun. John Challinor's inquiry about the timeliness of the feasibility study given recent shifts in the industry -- including delays in electric vehicle investments by major auto manufacturers -- D’Allesandro highlighted the uniqueness of the transit industry compared to the regular commercial and personal vehicle sectors.
“Transit industry is taking a leading role in this particular conversion,” D’Alessandro said, noting that the consultant is staying informed about electric technology trends in North America.
The report has been received for information by council.
Milton Transit will develop recommendations for next steps as part of its transit service plan and master plan update report, scheduled for later this year.