Published February 20, 2024

Peter Black

Local Journalism Initiative reporter

peterblack@qctonline.com 

Jan. 31, 2024

Quebec City’s tramway project may be stuck in the station, but the plan to replace the Réseau de Transport de la Capitale (RTC) gas-powered buses with electric ones is rolling along.

On Jan. 22, passengers boarded for the first time three 100 per cent electric buses on regular routes, as the city pursues the second stage of the pilot project that will eventually see a complete conversion of the RTC fleet.

RTC president and city executive committee member Maude Mercier Larouche said in a statement, “A major step has been taken today with the entry into service of our vehicles on regular routes, but the challenges remain for the future.”

She said electrification, “which adds a significant financial burden to public transport companies, must not be to the detriment of the service offered. To do this, public transport companies will need a sufficient, recurring and stable financial framework, and we will continue our discussions in this direction.”

The regular passenger service with the electric buses follows the first stage of the pilot project last year, which aimed to increase familiarity with the technology, conduct tests and train staff.

The three buses covered more than 29,000 kilometres over four different routes. According to a release, the buses drove “in varied conditions, namely summer and winter temperatures (minimum temperature of -17.5 degrees Celsius and maximum of 32.8 degrees Celsius), with and without load on board and on roads with different topographies. To this end, the tests carried out on several slopes in Quebec City were all successful.”

The trial also found the three buses could run for about 300 km and as much as 370 km before needing a charge, which meets the standard the RTC desired. The average time to recharge the vehicles was about three hours, according to the RTC. 

The buses have been rented from Novabus, a company owned by the Swedish giant Volvo, which has a manufacturing plant in Saint-Eustache. The RTC also has several hybrid buses operating in its fleet.

The RTC’s electric fleet, up to 100 vehicles, will be housed and maintained in a new building now under construction on Ave. Newton, the site of the former Simons store distribution centre.

The RTC called for tenders for the supply of electrical buses, and Novabus was the winning bidder. The first bus is to be delivered in 2026 and the second the year after.

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This 100 per cent electric bus is one of three the RTC has put into service on regular routes as part of an ongoing pilot project.  

Photo from Ville de Quebec

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