Barrie takes step toward net-zero with new electric bus pilot project

The City of Barrie unveiled its first fully electric bus – made in Canada.

Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall revealed the city’s first fully electric bus that is expected to begin service this summer.

Two electric buses have been purchased by the city as Barrie continues its pledge to reduce carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050.

“It’s an exciting day for the City of Barrie, where we get to showcase the city’s first fully electric bus,” Nuttall said. “It was a very quiet and smooth ride, and we are excited for how this can impact Barrie Transit going forward.”

According to the city, the bus is one of the most advanced models on the market and made by a Canadian company. The bus features a 520 Kilowatt battery and has a range of approximately 408 kilometers.

The City of Barrie applied for funding in 2022 through Housing Infrastructure and Communities Canada’s Zero Emission Transit Fund which granted the city $1.65 million leaving a remaining cost of $1.7 million. The funding allowed the city to purchase infrastructure to support the pilot project.

“The federal government provided us with the funding that has made it easier and better to be able to look at this pilot and to see how it performs in the City of Barrie,” Nuttall said. “Our hope is that we’re able to see a business case where, over time, it actually ends up being the cheaper route to go.”

Each electric transit bus costs approximately $1.5 million, compared to a 1 million dollar price tag on buses that rely on gas or diesel.

“You do pay more upfront for the new technology, but you are also reducing your costs when it comes to the fuel that it runs on with electricity being a cheaper source,” Nuttall said.

“We’re obviously in an area that has pretty extreme weather and testing this out going forward will give us a lot of data and information on how well it performs,” he added, noting the pilot project will assess how the electric buses function across the cities landscape.

In 2021, Barrie city council adopted a motion that endorsed electric buses, paving the way for today’s announcement.

“Council is obviously committed to sustainability and innovation, these buses are not only going to reduce our carbon footprint but also enhance the quality of life for residents by providing quieter and cleaner travel around the city of Barrie,” explained Nuttall.