TTC operates the largest fleet of electric buses in North America

TTC says it now operates the largest fleet of electric buses in North America.
 This announcement comes as the transit agency prepares to put its third new electric bus model into service this month.

 TTC's board ordered the first 30 buses in November 2017. Then in June 2018, the board approved the purchase of another 30 buses.
 When the latest 25 buses enter service by the end of September, TTC will operate a total of 60 all-electric buses as part of its electric bus pilot program.

 The buses were obtained from three separate factories.  Two of them use the same charging technology while the third requires a different type of charging station.
 The latest model operates on route 116 Morningside starting today.

 TTC says that with three models now in service, it will compare them in terms of charging and overall performance to determine which models to purchase in the future.

 Jay Robertson, TTC chair, said in a press statement: "Electricity is the future of public transit and I am proud that TTC has established itself as a leader in this field, as owner of the largest fleet of eBuses in North America."  "The TTC board wholeheartedly supports TTC's forward-thinking plan to achieve an emission-free fleet by 2040."
 The buses were purchased at a cost of $140 million, with assistance from the federal government through the Federal Public Transit Infrastructure Fund.

 Mayor John Tory said in the statement: "I want to thank the Government of Canada for providing this funding which helps keep Toronto residents moving by investing in modernizing, expanding and developing transit infrastructure."  "This is the right and responsible thing to do for our transit system, our city, and our environment."

 Electric vehicles are part of Toronto's TransformTO climate action strategy, which sets a goal to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. To achieve this goal, the city says, 100 percent of vehicles in Toronto will have to make the transition to low-carbon energy by 2050. It targets electrifying all buses by 2040.

 Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna said the investment in Toronto's electric bus fleet helps meet the federal goal of having 5,000 electric buses in Canadian fleets over the next five years and described it as "a sign of our commitment to clean, made-in-Canada technology."

 Vehicles generate about a third of emissions in Toronto today, according to the city.  The city says the new electric buses produce no exhaust emissions.