Barrie 
The Ontario government is taking a significant step towards supporting electric vehicles and reducing emissions with the introduction of two fully electric zero-emission GO buses.
Credit: GO Transit
The new buses will operate in Greater Toronto Area and serve as a part of the government’s plan to expand clean and green transit alternatives across the Greater Golden Horseshoe region.
Premier Doug Ford emphasized the importance of this move, stating, “The launch of these electric buses marks a significant milestone in our government’s plan to be a global leader in the electric vehicle revolution.”
Credit: Govt. of Ontario
Beginning on May 15, commuters on several GO bus routes, including GO bus routes 19 (Mississauga/North York), 27 (Milton/North York), 92 (Oshawa/Yorkdale) and 96B (Oshawa/Finch Express), will have the opportunity to travel on these zero-emission buses.
The buses will be easily recognizable by their unique exterior design featuring a lightning bolt. Passengers can expect a quieter ride and enjoy convenient amenities such as USB chargers and seatbelts.
Per the news release, these electric buses have undergone extensive testing without passengers since December 2021.
The results of the initial testing phase were instrumental in selecting the revenue service routes, ensuring that the buses return to the garage with a 20 percent battery capacity. Testing has demonstrated that these buses can travel approximately 225 kilometers in colder temperatures and about 300 kilometers in warmer temperatures without requiring a charge.
Each bus is equipped with nine batteries and can be fully charged within three to four hours. Charging stations have been installed at the Streetsville (in Mississauga) and Steeprock (in North York) GO bus garages, enabling efficient charging operations.
As commuters begin using these buses, the government will carefully evaluate feedback to inform potential future expansion of the program.
