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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.

Staff report re: Budget Amendment and Request to Begin Procurement – Supply and Delivery of Two (2) Fully Electric Powered Fire Truck be referred to Committee of Council meeting of September 20, 2023 and that Rosenbaeur / City View Specialty Vehicles also be invited to delegate at the same meeting. 

Amendment of budget to $1,300,000 for each truck, totalling $2,600,000.