September 23, 2022
The City of Edmonton and Strathcona County are unveiling their new hydrogen fuel cell buses at this weekend’s Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Expo. Come get a sneak peek of this new hydrogen electric bus technology the City and Strathcona County are testing as part of a province-wide collaboration to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our region.
The arrival of these buses is a key milestone in the jurisdictions’ commitment to piloting hydrogen buses in the region. The project received $4.6 million in funding through Emissions Reduction Alberta’s (ERA) Shovel-Ready Challenge, covering almost half of the project’s $9.8 million cost. The City and Strathcona County directed this funding towards the purchase of two hydrogen fuel cell electric buses, which will be tested as part of the Alberta Zero Emission Hydrogen Transit (AZEHT) initiative. The buses will hit the road in Edmonton and Strathcona County in 2023, once safety protocols, training and infrastructure requirements are completed.
“The arrival of the hydrogen fuel cell electric bus as a step towards achieving the City’s climate change goals,” said Mayor Sohi. “The City of Edmonton has been and continues to be an industry leader for using electric bus technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide more sustainable transportation and improve the rider experience.”
As a result of strong collaboration among several key stakeholders, the City and Strathcona County are industry leaders in the testing of hydrogen fuel cell electric buses. The City of Edmonton will be the first in Canada to run both hydrogen fuel cell electric buses and battery electric buses. The City of Edmonton and Strathcona County will also have the first hydrogen maintenance facility in Alberta and will use the first hydrogen vehicle fueling station in Alberta, which is a collaboration between the Alberta Motor Transport Association and Suncor.
“Strathcona County is proud to be a part of this industry-leading approach to reduce carbon emissions,” said Strathcona County Mayor Rod Frank. “Our region, specifically Alberta’s Industrial Heartland, provides the perfect testing environment with access to existing experience in hydrogen production. The combined expertise of all partners provides a first-in-Canada opportunity to test hydrogen fuel cell electric bus technology in our climate.”
“The need for new sustainable transportation technology options to help transition our transit fleets to zero-emissions has never been greater,” said ERA CEO Justin Riemer. “Collaborative approaches like this are necessary to unlock a pan-Canadian hydrogen economy that will achieve emission reductions, economic growth, and job creation.”
The two hydrogen fuel cell electric buses will be at the free Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Expo taking place this weekend at the Edmonton Expo Centre, where the public can get an up-close look at the buses and learn more about this initiative.
