Winnipeg Transit unveils first zero-emission fuel-cell bus

Winnipeg Transit unveiled its first hydrogen fuel cell bus on Wednesday. 

But while the city expects to receive dozens more zero-emission buses over the next few years, supply chain issues, budget pressures and looming tariff threats have thrown the city's plans to phase out its diesel fleet into doubt.

Erin Cooke, manager of Transit's transition to zero-emission bus program, says the city will test two types of buses — hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric — in 40-foot and 60-foot sizes. 

The fuel cell bus the city received is the third such vehicle in service in Canada, Cooke said.

"So we're cutting-edge right now, when it comes to technology, for testing this out," Cooke told reporters during a news conference at Transit's Osborne Street garage.

"We do have other zero-emission buses that will be arriving this year, which will include the first 60-foot [electric] buses in Canada, as well as battery electric buses as well." 

The buses include a mix of fuel cell electric, which charge with hydrogen, and battery electric, which can be plugged into a charger.

With $280 million from all three levels of government through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, the city expects to purchase a total of 90 zero-emission buses, including 70 battery electric and 20 fuel cell vehicles.

Half of the 16 buses expected this year will be fuel cell, and the other half will be battery electric. Half will be 40 feet in length, and the other half will be 60 feet. The city expects to receive another 24 zero-emission buses next year.

A 40-foot battery electric bus costs around $1.56 million, while a fuel cell bus costs about $1.9 million. A diesel bus costs approximately $900,000.

Hydrogen buses can run for 24 hours, while battery electric buses can run for 10 to 15 hours. 

Fuel cell buses are entirely zero-emission, while battery-electric buses must include a small diesel generator to heat the battery in cold weather. 

The city participated in a pilot project to test four zero-emission buses from 2015 to 2018.

The city has already scaled back its plans to purchase more zero-emission buses. It had planned to buy 100 buses with the funding from ICIP, but had to reduce its orders due to supply chain issues and cost pressures.