TransLink to Expand Battery-Electric Bus Fleet

TransLink, New Westminster, BC, Canada, is expanding its battery-electric bus fleet by more than 100 vehicles, with the approval of funding by Metro Vancouver’s Board of Directors. This investment will support long-term service growth, expand charging capabilities, and diversify the fleet.

The $479 million investment is allocated by the Metro Vancouver Regional District through the federal government’s Canada Community Building Fund (CCBF), which is administered by the Union of BC Municipalities. Since 2005, Metro Vancouver’s member jurisdictions have voluntarily pooled their federal funding from CCBF to support major regional transit investments like climate-resilient transportation.

“TransLink is grateful for this investment in our battery-electric bus fleet, which will allow us to improve service for our customers,” said Kevin Quinn, CEO. “We are now set up to replace aging diesel buses with a diversified fleet that will serve our customers efficiently and sustainably.”

Breakdown of investments:

• 102 new battery-electric buses to replace aging diesel buses
• 64 additional bus chargers and upgrades at the Port Coquitlam Transit Centre
• Testing a 60-foot electric trolley bus with in-motion charging capability

TransLink currently has 19 battery-electric buses with 57 more Nova LFSe+ battery-electric buses on the way, as well as 10 on-route overhead chargers. This expansion would support the growth of TransLink’s fleet from 19 battery-electric buses to 178 by 2030.