Commission Scolaire de Montreal (CSDM) received the city’s first all-electric school bus, signaling the school board’s intent to eventually transition towards zero emissions for its student transportation services.
The Type C conventional eLion from Quebec-based Lion Bus will transport 50 students to and from St. Lucia school in city’s St. Michel district, said the Montreal School Board, which provides educational services to more than 112,000 students at 119 campuses.
The eLion is powered by a TM4 electric motor that has a range of up to 100 miles and reaches a full charge after 6.5 hours.
“We know how environmental issues are important for our students,” said Board President Catherine Harel-Bourdon in a statement. “To board a bus that does not emit greenhouse gases is a positive message to the school community. This is a great initiative on the part of our transport partner. Let us hope that this bus is the first of a long series.”
The school board contracts its school bus service with Autobus Ideal. Company owner and GM Nancy Trudeau told STN that the company purchased the eLion electric bus for approximately $305,000 Canadian dollars ($230,000 USD). Autobus Ideal then utilized a grant of CA$125,000 from the Quebec provincial government to offset the purchase price.
Last week, the provincial government announced a CA$8.6 million investment in electric vehicles. The government added that it eventually wants to see all 8,000 provincial school buses go electric.
