Oakville (ON) Transit Expands Electric Bus Fleet

The new Nova LFSE+ 40-foot large capacity electric buses, manufactured by Nova Bus, will replace existing diesel buses currently in service. (Photo courtesy of the Town of Oakville)

In a step toward a cleaner and more sustainable future, the Town of Oakville, Ontario, has announced the expansion of its electric bus fleet with the introduction of 15 new Nova LFSE+ large capacity buses, set to be in service in February. This initiative is made possible through joint funding under the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), which supports the electrification of approximately 50 percent of the town’s transit fleet.

In addition to these new 15 large capacity buses and 15 smaller capacity electric buses introduced in 2023, Oakville is poised to add 12 additional small capacity and 32 large capacity electric buses in the next two years, bringing the total number of electric buses purchased to 74 by 2026.

The new Nova LFSE+ 40-foot large capacity electric buses, manufactured by Nova Bus, will replace existing diesel buses currently in service and will be used for conventional fixed routes across town. The new buses can travel up to 350 kilometers on a full charge, with most fixed routes requiring about 225 kilometers of travel in a day.

The town continues to take steps to support the integration of electric buses to its transit fleet. In 2011, a new bus garage and service center at the Oakville Transit facility was built, featuring a heightened roof and crane necessary for servicing electric buses. More upgrades are now underway including a 37,000-square-foot extension to the current facility involving an electrification system with automated charging infrastructure, along with sustainability features to ensure energy efficiency. Visit Oakville Transit.