Collingwood is spending almost $70,000 in federal cash to explore the practicality of electric buses.
The town announced this week it received a grant of $69,552 from the Government of Canada's Zero Emissions Transit Fund, and the money is earmarked for a study that explores the feasibility of incorporating electric buses into Collingwood's transit fleet.
Consultants HDR have already started work on the feasibility study, which includes modeling the existing town bus routes to estimate the battery and charging requirements needed for an electric bus. The consultants, hired through a Metrolinx joint procurement partnership involving 13 Ontario municipalities with similar projects, have also been tasked with assessing sites for a transit facility and creating an "electrification plan" for the town's transit fleet.
According to a news release from the town, the results of the study will be presented to council in 2025.
Mayor Yvonne Hamlin said the benefit of the feasibility study is better decision-making at the council table.
“Understanding the costs and benefits of transitioning to battery electric buses will help Council make an informed decision on the future of our transit fleet over the next 15-20 years,” stated the mayor in the news release.
The town already has the start of an electric fleet with three electric pickup trucks and seven hybrid SUVs. Electric buses, if deemed practical in Collingwood, would build the fleet and help the town move toward "greener operations."
Collingwood council did declare a "climate crisis" in October, 2019.
The feasibility study is not the first electric vehicle initiative in Collingwood using upper-level government grants.
There are four electric vehicle charging stations in the parking lot off Ste. Marie Street (behind Eddie Bush arena) that were paid for with a grant from National Resources Canada (NRCan), and Federal Development Agency (RT07).
The six charging stations installed in the Pine Street parking lot in December 2021 were paid for, in part, with a $120,000 grant from Natural Resources Canada, which was obtained through a joint application with the County of Simcoe.
The town keeps a list of its green initiatives on the town website here.
