BC Transit, the public transportation organization serving British Columbia, Canada, says it is planning to deploy up to 50 new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, starting with 25 units in an as-yet unnamed B.C. community.
The Times Colonist reports that the first five buses will go online in February 2014, and an additional 20 will follow in March 2014. BC Transit will also consider acquiring another 25 CNG buses, which would be in service by June 2015.
A request for proposals is calling for 40-foot, low-floor transit buses. The RFP closes on Feb. 15, 2013, and the contract will likely be awarded in March. BC Transit will also soon be issuing an RFP for a natural gas refueling facility.
The organization currently operates a fleet of about 1,000 buses. Twenty of those units are powered by Ballard Power Systems' FCvelocity-HD6 hydrogen fuel-cell modules. These buses have been in service since January 2010.
