Brampton, Ontario will partner with fleet electrification firm Zenobē in leading a $4bn CAD overhaul of its public buses. The collaboration aims to deploy 1,000 electric buses in the area to replace the city’s existing diesel fleet.
Zenobē (a UK EV fleet and battery storage provider) and the City of Brampton will essentially lead a group of commercial partners (including vehicle OEMs) from the UK and Canada through the first phase of a planned 10-year electrification initiative. Brampton is Greater Toronto’s largest suburb, and the new electric fleet is expected to support existing routes and a passenger base of around 40 million people annually.
The partnership will see the city procure electric buses from Canadian supplies with support on planning, software, supply chain and capital from Zenobē. Additionally, a number of UK stakeholders and local electrical and civil engineering teams will provide technical expertise for the roll-out of the vehicles.
Details on infrastructure and vehicles are yet to be confirmed, but the first phase of the project is anticipated to go ahead in early 2027. Calling it “one of the largest zero-emission bus programs in North America.” Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said, “This historic investment marks a turning point for Brampton and for public transit across Canada. By transitioning to a fully electric bus fleet, we’re not only reducing emissions — we’re creating jobs, improving air quality, and building a cleaner, healthier future for our residents.”
Steven Meersman, Co-Founder and Director, Zenobē, added: “We bring considerable experience working with local and federal public sector partners to enable and accelerate their transition to electric fleets. Our customized match-funding options, combined with the experience from delivering over 120 electric depots globally, lowers costs and de-risks the inevitable path to zero-emission fleets. We are delighted to grow our presence in Canada, and with Brampton, as we jointly achieve their financial and ecological objectives. We expect this will serve as a model for other projects currently under development.”
Zenobē currently retains around a 25 per cent market share of the UK’s electric bus sector, and is the largest owner and operator of electric buses in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Last year, the company secured millions in debt funding to support the rollout of electric buses across the UK, as well as to develop battery storage projects in North America and Australia.
prnewswire.com
