Now is your chance to say goodbye to BC Transit's blue electric demo bus.
After 16 months, the fully electric bus BC Transit has been testing in Victoria will move on to a new owner near the end of March.
The bus was provided to BC Transit by Proterra, which had been contracted to deliver ten fully electric buses to the Victoria area by the end of 2023.
But Proterra filed for bankruptcy before the buses could be delivered, and the firm that acquired Proterra's transit business - Phoenix Motors – has now decided against assuming the contracts with BC Transit.
Despite the setback, BC Transit still intends to have a fully electric fleet by 2040.
The Minister of Transportation says in a statement: “The original manufacturer, Proterra, unfortunately filed for bankruptcy last year and since then BC Transit has been working to find a suitable replacement to build their EV fleet. That work has progressed well. BC Transit prequalified a list of vendors in 2023 to ensure the process is as efficient and smooth as possible. I look forward to BC Transit resuming its electric bus procurement, continuing to green its fleet, and contributing to the Province’s GHG reduction goals.”