STO welcomes first 100% electric bus

Taylor Clark

Gatineau residents may spot the Société de transport de l’Outaouais’ first-ever electric bus on the roads as it goes through a series of tests over the next few months before welcoming riders aboard.

“This is a historic day for the (Société de transport de l’Outaouais), marking the beginning of a major organizational transformation that will span about ten years,” Claude Jacob, executive director of operations, projects and operational excellence, wrote in a press release. “Our first e-bus will serve as a rolling laboratory to allow our teams to familiarize themselves with this new technology, our charging equipment, and the driving and maintenance of this type of vehicle.”

The tests with the Nova LFSe+ electric bus will also allow the public transportation network to collect data specific to the reality of the system to plan the launch of the bus.

“It is important for us to be able to familiarize ourselves with the robustness of our network and this new technology before being able to integrate this bus into the public transit service and welcome the first customers on board. We are giving ourselves time to do things right,” added Jacob.

By the end of 2027, the Société de transport de l’Outaouais planned to add up to 46 buses of the same model to its network. According to its website, the public transportation network anticipated to have a fully electric fleet by 2042. 

Photo caption: The Société de transport de l’Outaouais welcomes its first fully electric bus, #2401, to its fleet.

Photo credit: Société de transport de l’Outaouais Website