Nova Bus is benefitting from one of the largest bus contracts in North America.
The Canadian and Quebec governments are partnering to buy 1,229 electric buses at a cost of $2.1 billion in Canadian dollars, the equivalent of about $1.5 billion in U.S. dollars.
Nova Bus, a sister business of motorcoach manufacturer Prevost and part of the Volvo Group, will manufacture the buses in Quebec, according to a statement by Nova Bus.
“This is the largest electric bus acquisition project in North America. It is an incredible vote of confidence in the Quebec economy,” said federal Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc.
Headed to Quebec transit companies
Ottawa’s contribution amounts to $780 million, while Quebec is spending $1.1 billion. The 10 public transit companies in the Quebec region that will add the electric buses to their fleets will cover the remaining $234 million.
The vehicles will have a range of at least 186 miles, or 300 kilometers. Half of them will be delivered to the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), which is the project’s representative overseeing the procurement of buses.
Delivery of the vehicles will be spread over four years and is expected to be completed in 2027.
This transition to sustainable transport will solidify Québec’s position as a leader in the fight against climate change.
“Nova Bus is very proud to be a long-term partner of ATUQ and its members. We have delivered more than 6,000 buses in Québec since 1997,” said Ralph Acs, President of Nova Bus, in a statement. “We are honored to continue this collaboration by supporting Quebec public transit authorities in their transition to electromobility and to be part of this new chapter we are writing together to collectively contribute to the fight against climate change.”
The vehicles will be built by two Nova Bus factories. The Saint-François-du-Lac plant, which has 350 employees, will be responsible for the construction of the chassis. The Saint-Eustache facility, which has 800 employees, will handle the final assembly.
The two governments included a stipulation requiring the buses be manufactured with 25% Canadian-acquired parts and that the final assembly be done in Quebec.
