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The STM announced today announced it will speed up its strategy for electrifying its surface transit system by going ahead with the purchase of 40 electric buses in a variety of types and using different technologies.
Montréal, September 21, 2017 – Société de transport de Montréal (STM) today announced it will speed up its strategy for electrifying its surface transit system by going ahead with the purchase of 40 electric buses in a variety of types and using different technologies.
The new vehicles will join the three electric ones that are currently running in downtown Montréal, as part of the City Mobility project. The decision is based on strong results from road testing conducted by STM and elsewhere, as well as the fast pace of progress in these technologies.
Specifically, through a number of calls for bids, STM will acquire:
- Four standard, quick-charging electric buses (40 feet) to make the 36 – Monk bus route entirely electric
- 30 slow-charging electric buses (40 feet), including a first series one, for the purpose of assigning them to different bus lines
- Four midibuses (30 feet), a mid-size vehicle bigger than a minibus yet smaller than a standard bus, to operate on the 212 Sainte-Anne de Bellevue bus line, as its route is well suited to this type of vehicle.
Transport adapté will not be left behind, as STM also want to conduct a demonstration project with two paratransit vehicles in order to test electric transportation in that context, by reaching a private agreement with a partner.
« Today’s announcement signals an important step in achieving our goal of purchasing only fully electric buses by no later than 2025, featuring the best technologies available. It shows our determination to upgrade our bus network, in line with the commitments in our strategic organizational plan. Speeding up our strategy with the purchase of 40 electric buses stems from the promising results achieved by the City Mobility project and the rapid progress we see in that field. By and large, this is good news for our customers as they will enjoy quiet, comfortable and more ecofriendly vehicles even sooner », stated Philippe Schnobb, STM board chairman.
Advantages for all Montrealers
« Our administration wants to make the city of Montréal a shining example of innovation and sustainable mobility. Transportation electrification is one of the cornerstones of that vision and today’s announcement clearly shows that our achievements are tangible », pointed out Ms. Elsie Lefebvre, associate councillor - transportation, responsible for Montréal’s strategy for electrification and vice-chair of the STM board.
« In addition to helping reduce GHG emissions, this STM project aligns perfectly with our administration’s determination to improve the offer of public transit service and make it a pleasant experience for everyone who chooses sustainable transportation, » added Aref Salem, Montréal executive committee member responsible for transportation.
The best choice
With this, STM is adopting a proactive strategy to be in a position to test a variety of vehicle types and technologies, in an operational context. Such a significant project will enable STM to expand its knowledge of these technologies while working closely with suppliers to contribute to their expansion, thereby ensuring a smooth transition to full electric mode.
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Philippe Déry
Affaires publiques
Société de transport de Montréal
514 350-0800 #87346
philippe.dery@stm.info
