The RDN will be installing electric bus charging ports soon as BC Transit continues adding more electric buses to their fleet. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

electric avenue

Infrastructure upgrades for electric buses coming to Regional District of Nanaimo

May 6, 2024 | 1:33 PM

NANAIMO — Public transportation in communities across B.C. continues to go electric.

BC Transit announced, on Monday, May 6, 66 electric buses have been ordered and at least nine communities will start work on electrification infrastructure projects.

Also announced the installation of 134 electric bus charging ports in several communities over the next two years, including the Regional District of Nanaimo, Victoria, and the Sunshine Coast.

No word yet on how many buses each community will receive or when they’ll be on the road, but BC Transit said in a release they will slowly be integrated into its fleet in early 2025 and will be fully implemented by the middle of 2026.

Costs are split between provincial, federal, and local governments, stemming from an almost $400 million joint investment to support public transit announced in 2023.

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“Innovation in our public transit system helps us create a greener future for everyone,” said Rob Fleming, minister of transportation and infrastructure. “As we start to electrify our transit fleet more people will be able to make cleaner transportation choices affordably.”

The federal government wants to put 5,000 zero-emission public transit and school buses on Canada’s roads by 2026 and aligns with BC Transit’s goal of a fully electric fleet by 2040.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow