Text by James Bow

See Also

• TTC Hybrid-Electric Bus Purchase Report - November 13, 2017 (PDF - 932 Kb)

In November 2017, almost a quarter century after the TTC abandoned electric bus operation in Toronto, the TTC received a report on the possibility of reintroducing electric bus service, without the use of trolley wires.

Electric vehicle technology had improved significantly in the intervening period, with battery-powered vehicles able to provide considerable range on single charges. Public transit’s use of fixed routes and layover points also offered the prospect of putting in installations en route where vehicles could charge up between runs. With rising gasoline prices and increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions, the TTC had embarked on a target of having an emission-free transit fleet by 2040.

Great Strides for Batteries

But while battery-electric buses were more capable now than they’d been five years before, the TTC still had to assess the technology to see if it was feasible for Toronto’s streets, and to see if a particular bus maker should be given the contract to provide the TTC with an electric bus fleet.

At its November 2017 meeting, TTC staff recommended that:

1. The Board delegate authority to the TTC CEO to negotiate and enter into up to three contracts for the supply of a total of 30 long range battery electric buses not to exceed the total project cost of $50M based on the following:

   a) The award of contract(s) will be based on negotiating an acceptable agreement, satisfactory to the TTC General Council with the only three qualified long range battery electric bus suppliers, New Flyer, Proterra and BYD that are compliant with Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; and

   b) All 30 battery electric buses are to be delivered no later than March 31, 2019 in order to ensure that the buses are eligible for PTIF funding.

2. The Board delegate authority to the TTC CEO to enter into a contract(s) with up to two suppliers for the supply of 230 new generation hybrid electric buses not to exceed the total project cost of $230M based on the following:

   a) The award of the contract(s) will be based on negotiating an acceptable agreement, satisfactory to TTC General Council with the only two bus suppliers, Nova Bus and New Flyer, capable of manufacturing hybrid electric buses that are compliant with Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; and

   b) Hybrid electric buses are to be delivered no later than March 31, 2019 in order to ensure that the buses are eligible for PTIF funding

3. Staff return to the TTC Board in Q1 of 2018 with an information report providing award details with respect to recommendations 1 and 2.

A Call for Demonstrators

With these recommendations in mind, the TTC called for production companies to send demonstration buses to the commission, so that front-line drivers and maintenance workers could get first hand experience on the new vehicles. In April 2017, the TTC CEO reported that three manufacturers had stepped forward: BYD, New Flyer and Proterra. They would each supply up to 10 buses each by the end of March 2019, and supply demonstration vehicles by the end of April 2018. On April 16, 2018, three companies shipped their demonstration or concept buses to Mount Dennis garage for viewing by maintenance staff, and photographs. Over the next four days, these buses were displayed at every bus garage, as well as at the Hillcrest Complex and Leslie Barns. The public got a chance to view these buses on April 21 at the Richview Collegiate Institute as part of Ward 4’s Community Environment Day.

The TTC signed an order with New Flyer on May 19, 2018, to purchase 10 battery-electric buses. These were of the company’s XE40 Xcelsior CHARGE series. This new series of bus had seen trial service in Winnipeg and was on order for Vancouver, Chicago, New York, Portland, Salt Lake City, and Alameda, California. The model boasted the following specifications (courtesy CPTDB):

• Measurements:
  • Length: 41’
  • Width: 102”
  • Height: 130”
  • Wheelbase: 283.75”
  • Turning radius: 44’
  • Curb weight: 31,000 lbs
• Motor: Siemens ELFA2 permanent magnet traction motor (direct drive)
• Axles:
  • Front: MAN VOK 07
  • Rear: MAN HY-1350 single reduction
• Brakes: All wheel disc
• HVAC: Thermo King RLFE
• Electrical system: Parker Vansco multiplex
• Floor: Composite subfloor at rear interior step with ACQ Plywood remainder, Altro Transflor, Gerflor Tarabus, RCA rubber, Treadflex flooring
• Tire size: 305/70R22.5

On June 12, 2018, the TTC Board decided to increase its order of 30 initial battery-electric buses to 60, with an additional 10 vehicles purchased from all three manufacturers who had stepped up. The buses would be grouped in the 3700 series, with New Flyers taking up numbers 3700-3719, the BYD Auto K9M model 3720-3739, and the Proterra Catalyst BE40 receiving numbers 3740-3759. However, at its meeting on Wednesday, May 8, the TTC decided against ordering an additional 10 buses from BYD, meaning that only buses 3720-3729 would arrive from that class.

New Flyer’s XE40 was the first to arrive, with bus #3700 shipped to Arrow Road and arriving on the afternoon of April 14, 2019. Toronto mayor John Tory announced the arrival on Twitter while dignitaries posed for photographs. The TTC announced the new bus would undergo a few weeks of testing at the garage before being put into service.

Battery-Electric Buses Image Archive

	An interior view of a Proterra bus, photographed by Justin Ha in March 28, 2020.
	A demonstrator for the Chinese manufacturer BYD heads into Mount Dennis garage on April 16, 2018. This photo was taken by Chris Edwards.
	The back end of the BYD demonstrator outside of Mount Dennis garage on April 16, 2018. Photo by Chris Edwards.
	The battery-electric demonstrators pose at Mount Dennis Garage on April 16, 2018. Photo by Chris Edwards.
	A 2015 BYD K9 battery-electric demonstrator approaches the exit to Birchmount Garage, and prepares to head to its next stop, Eglinton Garage. Photo taken on April 18th, 2018 by Marcus Danchuk.
	TTC New Flyer Industries XE40 'Xcelsior' electric demo bus is spotted leaving Birchmount Garage after being displayed for TTC employees. Photo taken on April 18th, 2018, by Marcus Danchuk.
	A 2018 Proterra Catalyst BE40 electric demo bus is shown here leaving Birchmount Garage on April 18th, 2018. This photo was taken by Marcus Danchuk.
	On the afternoon of April 15, 2019, the TTC officially took delivery of New Flyer Industries XE40 Xcelsior CHARGE battery-electric bus at its Arrow Road garage. Toronto Mayor John Tory announced the event on his Twitter account as dignitaries posed for pictures. The bus will be tested for a few weeks before being put into service.
	An official TTC photograph of New Flyer XE40 battery-electric bus #3700 being delivered to Arrow Road Garage on the afternoon of April 15, 2019.
	Robert Lubinski highlights the distinctive front of the TTC's Proterra prototype battery-electric bus #3725 as it pasues southbound on Bay Street, approaching Bloor in 6 BAY service. This picture was taken on the afternoon of NOvember 21, 2019.
	A view of the rera of TTC Proterra prototype battery-electric bus #3725 as it pauses southbound on Bay Street, approaching Bloor in 6 BAY service. This shot was captured by Robert Lubinski on the afternoon of November 21, 2019.
	TTC Proterra electric bus prototype #3726 waits for passengers at Cumberland Terrace on Bay Street, north of Bloor, in 6 BAY service. Robert Lubinski snapped this photograph on December 19, 2019.
	TTC Proterra battery-electric bus #3727 heads southbound on Bay in 6 BAY service, approaching Bay Station and Bloor Street. This photo was taken by Justin Ha on March 28, 2020.
	A shot of the rear of Proterra battery-electric bus #3727, paused southbound at Union Station in 6 BAY service. This photo was taken by Justin Ha on March 28, 2020.
	TTC Proterra prototype battery-electric bus #3733 turns from northbound Bayview onto westbound Davisville in 28 BAYVIEW SOUTH service. Etienne Matte took this photograph on January 30, 2020.
	TTC Proterra Electric Bus #3740 is seen approaching Pioneer Village station in 41 KEELE service. This shot was taken by Richard YS on July 22, 2023.
	Jelo Gutierrez Cantos photographed and supplied this shot of TTC BYD K9M prototype battery-electric bus #3750 seen at Morningside Avenue and Ellesmere Road on its first day of revenue service running on the 116C MORNINGSIDE route on September 10, 2020.