CW159-160-2024

Background

Brampton Transit is committed to achieving an environmentally sustainable transit service by electrifying its fleet. With the transportation sector being a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the electrification of Brampton Transit’s fleet is crucial in achieving the City of Brampton’s GHG reduction targets in support of the federal government’s 2050 emissions targets.

staff are seeking Council endorsement of the Zero Emission Bus Implementation Strategy & Rollout Plan (ZEB Strategy) prepared by the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC).

Council’s endorsement of the ZEB Strategy includes the adoption of and commitment to achieving a net zero objective for the Brampton Transit bus fleet as early as 2040 and no later than 2050, subject to the capital and operating commitments required. 

The ZEB Strategy recommends, based on existing route structure and geographic location (in relation to our local energy grid), that the City proceeds to electrify the bus fleet using a mixed fleet of Zero Emission Buses (ZEBs); both Battery Electric Buses (BEBs) and hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Buses (FCEBs). 

The ZEB Strategy will be executed in a phased approach, as outlined in this report and subject to change based on the annual fleet plan, required funding and/or financing, commercial supply chain availability, technology innovation, and Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) requirements. 

The transition to ZEBs will require more buses given the limited kilometer range of ZEBs that are commercially available today, compared to diesel and hybrid-electric buses. 

The mixed fleet transition provides for the fewest number of ZEBs within the three fleet electrification scenarios examined, and will require: o More buses: approximate 21% increase in fleet to provide same level of service as clean diesel/hybrid electric buses; and o More service hours: approximate 7% additional incremental service hours; and o More staff: increased labour expenditures to support additional service hours

More facilities and equipment:  New Third Transit Facility: storage limits are anticipated to reach near capacity in 2034 (973 buses forecasted). Advancing Phase 2 build to support electrification is needed.  Future Additional Facilities: Further assessment will need to be completed to determine the fleet storage strategy beyond 2034, including potential for expansion and/or relocation options for 3 existing facilities, and/or the need for a potential New Fourth Transit Facility.  The zero emission target for achieving full electrification as outlined in the ZEB Strategy is achievable, and ambitious. This target will however require significant funding and financing to achieve, as the City alone will be unable to generate sufficient funds from the tax base and current funding sources.

Source: City of Toronto

Item Description

Reduction of emissions by 68%

Mixed battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell busses

Carbon reduction dependent on source of hydrogen grey, blue or green

City can meet its carbon reduction targets with the proposed solution

Motions:

2. 

That Council endorse the Brampton Transit Zero Emission Bus Implementation Strategy and Rollout Plan prepared by the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium to help guide the City’s transition to an environmentally sustainable transit service;

3. That Council adopt and commit to a net zero objective by transitioning to a zero emission bus fleet for Brampton Transit as early as 2040 with full fleet transition required no later than 2050, if possible;

4. That Council consider the capital and operating financial commitments outlined in the Brampton Transit Zero Emission Bus Implementation Strategy and Rollout Plan Summary Report corporate priorities during the City's annual budget process, noting that future capital and operating requests are subject to change and require approval through the annual budget process; and

5. That the General Manager, Transit, be directed to update the Brampton Transit Zero Emission Bus Implementation Strategy and Rollout Plan on a five-year cycle, subject to future funding approval during the annual budget process.

Whereas the City of Brampton continues to demonstrate leadership in environmental actions, such as strategies and/or plans, that are commitments to take action against climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG); 

Whereas the City of Brampton declared a climate change emergency in 2019, one of more than 2,300 governments worldwide to do so, and subsequently the City’s Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan (CEERP) was developed;

Whereas in 2020 City of Brampton Council endorsed CEERP, which creates a roadmap that will improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create economic advantage, ensure energy security, and increase Brampton’s resilience to climate change; 

Whereas the CEERP identified greenhouse gas emissions reductions, with the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions being the transportation sector; 

Whereas to meet the goals identified in CEERP, Brampton Transit started to work on various feasibility studies exploring the possibility and roadmap to reduce its environmental impact by decarbonizing its fleet; 

Whereas the City of Brampton launched its Electric Bus Demonstration & Integration Trial in 2021, at the time, the largest single global deployment of standardized and fully interoperable battery electric buses and high-powered overhead on-route charging systems, which builds on Brampton's commitment to sustainability by greening its fleet; and

Whereas in 2022, the City of Brampton engaged the Canada Infrastructure Bank and achieved financial close on an investment wherein the CIB will commit up to $400 million to support Brampton Transit’s purchase of up to 450 zero-emission buses, the CIB’s largest zero emission bus financing commitment with a municipality to date, supporting one of the largest public transit fleet conversions in Canada;

Therefore, be it resolved that City staff be directed to:

1. Continue to advocate with all levels of governments on funding and extensions to current funding deadlines to align with industry electrification timelines;

2. Engage with Energy service providers as a Service partners to gain information on possible solutions to deliver on Transit's electrification strategy and implementation plan that is practical, cost efficient and focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and report back to Council; and

3. Work with CUTRIC and Metrolinx on the integration of electrifications at GO stations.

Proposed by

Mayor Brown