TransLink reveals bus fleet electrification plan, requests Mayors’ Council endorsement

TransLink has unveiled its updated Low Carbon Fleet Strategy and is asking the Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation for support, putting the region on the path to converting all buses to zero emissions technology by 2050.

TransLink says Metro Vancouver can make significant progress over the next decade by replacing 50 percent of the diesel and natural gas fleet with clean, zero-emissions battery electric models.

The Low Carbon Fleet Strategy calls for investments in several key areas:

• Procurement of up to 635 battery electric buses to replace diesel and diesel-hybrid fleet.
• Installation of charging infrastructure on-route and at depots.
• Construction of British Columbia's first fully electric capable bus depot.

TransLink will require C$95 million (US$71.279 million) to C$447 million (US$335.336 million) in new funding over the next 10 years to proceed with the strategy.  TransLink says the amount of funding required is dependent on which approach the Mayors’ Council chooses; cautious, progressive or aggressive, since this plan is unfunded and requires significant support from senior governments.

“Transitioning the bus fleet to zero-emissions technology is an essential step toward breaking the region’s dependence on fossil fuels,” said TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond. “This strategy sets out a bold course that will eventually allow us to provide 100 percent green public transportation.”

TransLink says it is recommending that the Mayors’ Council endorse this phase of the Low Carbon Fleet Strategy and direct staff to start finalizing the plan.

TransLink's Low Carbon Fleet Strategy

Transportation accounts for over 35 percent of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Metro Vancouver, according to TransLink. As one of the region’s largest consumers of diesel fuel and operator of a fleet of heavy-duty vehicles, TransLink plays a role in reducing emissions in its own operations. The Low Carbon Fleet Strategy lays out a path for meeting TransLink’s environmental targets.

TransLink’s Sustainability Targets

In October 2018, the Mayors’ Council and the TransLink Board of Directors approved the following targets:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050; and
• Use only renewable energy in all operations by 2050.

Phase One key findings include:

• Only significant fleet electrification can achieve a reduction of TransLink’s GHG emissions by at least 80 by 2050. Use of renewable fuels in existing buses provides a cost-effective way to get early reductions while the fleet transitions.
• Although life-cycle cost of battery electric buses may match existing technologies by 2025, over half of the cost of the strategy is in the significant charging infrastructure development and changes to bus operations pushing out total cost parity beyond 2040.
• Fleet electrification will require additional capital funding, and this will only be partially offset by operating savings in the first decade – primarily fuel cost savings.

Phase Two Steps 2020-2050:

• Begin purchase of additional battery electric buses in 2021, for delivery in 2023.
• Design next Transit Center (Marpole) to accommodate 100 percent electric buses.
• Retrofit an existing Transit Center to accommodate 100 percent electric buses in 2026.
• Implement on-route charging for remaining routes.
• Utilize Renewable Fuels in existing fleet, when available.
• Continually assess commercial availability and cost of long-range battery buses and hydrogen fuel cell buses for highway coaches and shuttle buses.

Proposed Approaches

TransLink is asking the Mayors’ Council to choose one of the following approaches.

Cautious approach:

This is the least aggressive and lowest cost option, in recognition that funding is not yet secured, and that the technology is continuing to evolve rapidly. Moving at a measured pace may result in lower net costs over the long term.

• Open Marpole Transit Center as “electric ready” for 100 percent depot charging, install 80 chargers.
• Convert route 100 to full electric operation by adding one more on-route charger.
• Purchase 95 battery electric buses.
• Incremental capital investment of C$95 million  (US$71.279 million).
• Including trolleys, 26 percent of buses electrified by 2030.
• 2030 fleet GHG reduced by 14 percent compared to 2007.
• Projected operating cost savings of C$27 million (US$20.258).

Progressive approach:

This is a faster pace of investment which achieves greater GHG reductions over the next 10 years while still managing technology risk.

• Open new Marpole Transit Center as 100 percent depot charging with 280 chargers.
• Convert routes 100, 159, 169, 188 to full electric operation by adding four on-route chargers.
• Purchase 314 battery electric buses.
• Incremental capital investment of C$199 million (US$149.309).
• Including trolleys, 41 percent of buses electrified by 2030.
• 2030 fleet GHG reduced by 28 percent compared to 2007.
• Projected operating cost savings of C$67 million (US$50.273 million).

Aggressive approach:

This is the most aggressive and costly option representing the fastest possible turn-over of the fleet to battery-electric buses without retiring existing buses early. This option achieves maximum GHG reductions over the next 10 years, but also incurs a greater level of financial and technology risk.

• Open new Marpole Transit Center as 100 percent depot charging with 280 chargers.
• Expand Burnaby Transit Center with 267 depot chargers to accommodate 80 percent of routes.
• Convert route 100 and most Port Coquitlam Transit Center routes to full electric operation by installing 17 on-route chargers.
• Purchase 635 battery electric buses.
• Incremental capital investment of C$447 million (US$335.406 million).
• Including trolleys, 64 percent of buses electrified by 2030.
• 2030 fleet GHG reduced by 44 percent compared to 2007.
• Projected operating cost savings of C$124 million (US$93.040 million).