A new all-electric bus will help the viability of Island-wide bus travel, as well as routes out to Tofino through the summer months. (submitted photo)

By Alex Rawnsley

buzzing bus

Fully electric bus debuts on daily Nanaimo to Victoria route

Apr 22, 2021 | 4:35 PM

NANAIMO — Vancouver Island’s first, fully-electric highway coach is in operation.

The new bus, operated by Wilsons Transportation for its Vancouver Island Connector run between Nanaimo and Victoria, is powered by a 313-kilowatt battery and seats up to 41 people.

Samantha Wilson, spokesperson for the company, said the three month pilot project will test the limits of the technology.

“A big part of the electric vehicles of all sizes is the charging infrastructure, which is a little behind the technology of the vehicles themselves,” Wilson said. “Part of the reason we put this electric vehicle on this particular run is because we had the infrastructure available in Victoria, so the bus is able to charge overnight.”

Generally, electric buses and other commercial vehicles are unable to utilize charging hookups at gas stations and parking lots.

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The retail value of the bus is around $600,000 which is comparable with like-sized highway coaches running on diesel or gasoline. It has a range of around 280 kilometres, comfortably enough to make the Victoria-Nanaimo round trip once per day.

Early tests on the route had approximately 25 per cent of the battery remaining upon returning to the yard in Victoria.

Studies conducted on the new vehicle showed it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 97 per cent compared to a traditional highway coach.

Data collected during the pilot project will arm bus operators with more information to petition levels of government to invest in charging infrastructure.

“Do the trial runs, do the research, proof of concept to be able to bring forth to try and gain some support to getting infrastructure in place rather than relying on the operators.”

ICBC data showed five electric buses registered in the Lower Mainland and one on the south Island in 2019. A further nine hybrid buses were also listed across the province.

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alex.rawnsley@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley