Brampton Launches World’s Largest Fleet of Interoperable Battery Electric Buses

EIN CUTRIC Brampton 400

May 6, 2021

The Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) congratulates Brampton Transit on the deployment of the world’s largest fleet of interoperable and standardized battery electric buses (BEBs).

The eight BEBs from Nova Bus and New Flyer charge completely in less than 10 minutes using four 450-kilowatt overhead pantograph stations provided by ABB Inc. and Siemens Canada Ltd. The system is part of CUTRIC’s Pan-Canadian Electric Bus Demonstration and Integration Trial, the first initiative in the world to design, develop and integrate BEBs and high-powered chargers made by different manufacturers.

“Brampton’s world-leading deployment, which is being supported by five of CUTRIC’s Member companies, makes Canada a global hotbed of electric bus innovation,” said CUTRIC President and CEO Josipa Petrunic. “This project is also creating new low-carbon technology jobs and attracting foreign investment to Brampton, to Ontario, and to Canada, all of which is more vital than ever as we work to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Having recently approved the updated Brampton Grow Green Environmental Master Plan, which mandates an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, members of City Council lauded the BEB initiative for saving nearly 2,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. “I am excited to announce the launch of electric buses on Brampton’s roads starting May 3. Brampton is a Green City, and this is a significant milestone in sustainability for our community,”  said Mayor Patrick Brown.  “We are proud to collaborate with CUTRIC, our project partners and leaders in innovation for the Pan-Canadian Battery Electric Bus Demonstration and Integration Trial in Brampton. This project is a global first, and will further enhance our transit network, which is one of the fastest-growing in Canada.”

Having achieved its initial goal of deploying 18 BEBs and seven chargers in Vancouver, York Region and Brampton, the trial is expanding to include hundreds of BEBs across seven cities as part of a national joint procurement initiative using an innovative funding and financing solution from the Infrastructure Bank of Canada.

All three transit agencies in the trial to date have agreed to collect real-time BEB and charger data, and to share those data sets with each other to support evidence-based electrification procurements in the immediate future. CUTRIC is currently collecting data from all operational vehicles and chargers in order to support empirical analysis and interoperability testing, and to build a Canadian E-Bus Big Data Trust for municipalities across the country.

“The growth and progress of the Pan-Canadian Electric Bus Demonstration and Integration Trial is shifting the entire zero-emission transit industry towards interoperability and standardization, which in turn will help to ensure that transit agencies and all levels of government benefit from a competitive marketplace,” Petrunic said. “This is good news for taxpayers, and great news for transit riders.”

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • Code Question on Section 24 – Patient Care Areas

    Code Question on Section 24 – Patient Care Areas

    July 14, 2025 The rules for the installation of panelboards, circuits, and bonding in Patient Care Area depends on whether the area is designated as either, Basic Care, Intermediate Care or Critical Care. How are these areas defined? Read more on Section 24 — Health care areas Read More…

  • Ontario’s Institutional Component Drives Non-Residential Construction Intentions in May 2025

    Ontario’s Institutional Component Drives Non-Residential Construction Intentions in May 2025

    July 14, 2025 In May, the total value of building permits issued in Canada rose by $1.4 billion (+12.0%) to reach $13.1 billion. The increase in construction intentions was driven by Ontario’s institutional component (+$1.3 billion). On a constant dollar basis (2023=100), the total value of building permits issued in May increased 11.8% from the previous month and was… Read More…

  • Plan Group Partners in Construction of UHN Surgical Tower at Toronto Western Hospital

    Plan Group Partners in Construction of UHN Surgical Tower at Toronto Western Hospital

    July 14, 2025 Plan Group is proud to be a partner in the construction of the UHN Surgical Tower at Toronto Western Hospital. Plan Group will provide work on the project in: Mechanical: Plumbing, HVAC, Controls, Medical GasElectrical: Lighting & Controls, Power Distribution, Emergency Generators, UPSTechnology: Structured Cabling, AV Systems including Digital Signage and IPTV UHN’s 15-storey Surgical… Read More…

  • How Canada Can Equip Workers for a Low-Carbon Future

    How Canada Can Equip Workers for a Low-Carbon Future

    July 14, 2025 The Canadian economy is shifting towards low-carbon industries, and the workforce is shifting with it. New roles are emerging, traditional ones are evolving and the demand for skilled workers is growing fast — particularly in light of the ambitious nation-building agenda the federal government has set out. In the federal Speech from… Read More…


Changing Scene

  • Luxxbox Launches Quick Ship Program to Accelerate Project Timelines

    Luxxbox Launches Quick Ship Program to Accelerate Project Timelines

    July 16, 2025 Luxxbox announces the launch of its new Quick Ship Program, designed to provide architects, designers, and project managers in the United States and Canada with expedited access to a curated selection of their most in-demand acoustic lighting products. With a two-week turnaround from order to dispatch, the program ensures that project timelines… Read More…

  • ECS Earns Platinum Status for 8th Consecutive Year in Canada’s Best Managed Companies Program

    ECS Earns Platinum Status for 8th Consecutive Year in Canada’s Best Managed Companies Program

    July 16, 2025 Electrical Cable Supply (ECS), Canada’s largest independently owned wire and cable distributors, is proud to announce its re-certification with the prestigious Platinum designation in Deloitte’s Canada’s Best Managed Companies program for the eighth consecutive year. This announcement recognizes ECS’s sustained excellence in strategy, innovation, culture, and strong financial performance. The Canada’s Best… Read More…

  • Nexans Canada Partners with Skills Compétences Canada to Sponsor WorldSkills Team Canada 2026

    Nexans Canada Partners with Skills Compétences Canada to Sponsor WorldSkills Team Canada 2026

    July 16, 2025 Nexans has announced its partnership with Skills Compétences Canada (SCC), a not-for-profit organization that actively promotes careers in skilled trades and technologies. As part of the partnership, Nexans will sponsor WorldSkills Team Canada 2026 as they prepare to compete at the 48th WorldSkills Competition, taking place in Shanghai, China, from September 22 to 27, 2026. “At Nexans,… Read More…

  • OEL Apprentice Success Project Available Until March 2026

    OEL Apprentice Success Project Available Until March 2026

    July 14, 2025 With renewed funding by Ontario’s Skills Development Fund, the OEL Apprentice Success Project is now available for another year until March 2026. The project is part of OEL’s Employer Engagement Program (EEP) consisting of wage, training, and equipment subsidies for apprentices. These funding opportunities are available to OEL Members and non-Members. For… Read More…