STM has successful first year with City Mobility

Press release

A three-year project, City Mobility has delivered conclusive results since the start of testing.

Montréal, June 8, 2018 – The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) reported positive results for its first year of putting three 100% electric buses into passenger service on the 36 Monk line, as part of the City Mobility technological demonstration project.

A three-year project, City Mobility has delivered conclusive results since the start of testing. The tests include making assessments under real operating conditions, including service planning and delivery, infrastructure operation, and passenger and driver experience. The facts below show the scope of the progress made to date:

  • Number of charges: 8,781 charges
  • Charging station availability rate: 96%
  • Average charging time: 3 minutes
  • Reduction of GHG emissions: 113 tons, or the equivalent of 500,000 km in a car
  • Distance travelled: 94,666 km
  • Time in operation: 8,762 hours

Passengers on the 36 Monk line appreciate the new buses, which are quiet, comfortable and environmentally friendly. Three-quarters of them feel their experience is even better than on regular buses.

Drivers also enjoy the smooth ride, the driver’s seat and the quietness on board. More than 75% of them see an improvement.

Quebec transportation industry recognizes City Mobility

In April 2018, City Mobility was awarded the grand prize in the “Innovation” category of the Dans l’œil de l’AQTr contest, specifically for the project’s level of innovation and potential reproducibility — it could inspire other transit authorities and companies to make the first move toward electrification.

Four new electric buses

Following the announcement in September 2017 that the STM was speeding up its strategy to electrify its surface transit system, the STM will acquire four standard fast-charging electric buses (40 feet) to make the 36 Monk line 100% electric. The new buses will join the three electric buses currently running in downtown Montréal as part of the City Mobility project. They will hit the road in 2020.

These initiatives are part of the STM’s Organizational Strategic, which calls for the purchase of only electric buses by 2025 to make its surface transit system 100% electric. The initiatives will enable the STM to acquire knowledge and achieve new milestones in the electrification of its bus fleet. They will also give passengers the opportunity to experience the benefits of electric travel.

About City Mobility

As part of the City Mobility project, the STM signed a partnership agreement with Nova Bus, a member of the Volvo Group, to test three electric buses that recharge using fast conductive charging technology connected to the roof of the bus and put them into passenger service. Nova Bus has now designed in Quebec a new version of its bus, which passengers already love, by electrifying its drive system.

The STM decided to start implementing the project on the 36 Monk line, where three electric buses are running. Two fast-charging stations were installed, one at Square Victoria and the other at the end of the line at the Angrignon terminus. In addition, four slow-charging stations were installed at the LaSalle bus garage to charge and stabilize the batteries during the night.

Information :

Isabelle Tremblay

Affaires publiques

STM

medias@stm.info