A Promising Step Forward - The STL now has a bus that is 100% electric

LAVAL, QC, Jan. 14, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - In late 2012, the Société de transport de Laval took possession of a fully electric 40-ft bus, the length of a regular city bus.

This is a first for Quebec and even Canada, in regards to use within an urban setting.

Built by the American manufacturer Design Line, the vehicle is equipped with slow charge batteries, giving it an estimated autonomy of over 200 kilometres.

In the course of the next few months, the bus will be subjected to a series of tests. In fact, the members of the Maintenance and Engineering team as well as the STL drivers will be evaluating its reliability, the driving conditions, its actual autonomy, and its maintenance requirements.

The vehicle will be gradually put to use as early as this spring, which will allow for the expansion of tests and gathering of comments from clients.

The results will be shared with our partners at other transportation corporations.

The STL wants to sincerely thank its partners: Hydro-Québec, the ministère des Transport du Québec and AVT (Acquisition and Management of Transportation and Vehicles g.p.).

"I am proud to collaborate with the STL in making a tangible impact for sustainable development in Laval. The environment is one of the major challenges of my generation and I hope that in fifteen years, all the transportation corporations will have followed suit in the electrification of their fleet. This is another step towards our energy independence", commented Mr. Bureau-Blouin, MNA for Laval-des-Rapides.

"Hydroelectric energy happens to be one of our greatest riches, pointed out Mr. Sylvain Gaudreault, Quebec's Minister of Transport. This is why we are aiming for a gradual electrification of mass transit on the entire territory. The pilot project that is starting up today is an important milestone in that direction."

"This initiative, of which we are very proud, inserts itself perfectly within the framework of our Sustainable Mobility Plan, mentioned the President of the Board of the STL, Mr. Jean-Jacques Beldié. This is an efficient way to reach our reduction of greenhouse gas target. Our research and experiments will also contribute to provide information to the Autorités organisatrices de transport (AOT) (Transport Organising Authorities) that are all working towards the electrification of mass transit."

Laval's mayor, Mr. Alexandre Duplessis, is very pleased about this purchase: "I'm very proud that the STL was able to acquire the first 100% electric bus in Quebec, and even Canada, under comparable conditions. Laval is implementing several initiatives aimed at reducing GHG emissions: the Sustainable Mobility Plan and Évolucité are two tangible projects that will facilitate reaching our goal of reducing 50% of GEG emissions by 2031." 

"We are more than happy to take part in this experiment, declared Hydro-Québec's Mr. Pierre-Luc Desgagné, Senior Director - Strategic Planning. The data collected will be of great value to the evolution of electric transportation."

Therefore, as of 2013, a fully electric bus will be travelling the streets of Laval.

The STL, Facts and Figures

• The STL oversees over 20 million trips yearly.
• The STL deployed its STLSynchro system that informs clients of bus schedules and movements in real time.
• The review of its bus network, made necessary by the arrival of the métro, translated into a 32% service increase, faster trips, more direct lines and an increase in ridership outside rush hours, on evenings and weekends, on 12 lines.
• The fare policy is aimed at encouraging families to use mass transit: an adult paying a regular fare on weekends and holidays may be accompanied by up to five children of 11 years of age or younger at no extra charge. This policy also applies to every summer day from July 1^st to Labour Day. Moreover, the $1 fare on smog alert days in summer is a Quebec first.
• It also works with the AQLPA (Quebec Association to Fight Against Air Pollution), Communauto and a carpooling network to encourage sustainable transportation in Laval.
• All of its fleet's vehicles use B5 biodiesel fuel.
• The STL transmits news and service advisories on its Facebook page and Twitter account.
• Its clients have the option of registering with MaSTL to receive notices related to bus lines they routinely use and obtain information on what's new at the STL.
• Since the introduction in 2009 of its Vehicle Scheduling Control System, the STL has been registering an increased rate of punctuality of nearly 90%.
• The STL is the recipient of several achievement awards, among them the AQTR's Grand prix d'excellence en transport en commun in 2010, acknowledging its excellence as a mass transit corporation.
• In 2011, the STL received the Communication Grand Public prize from the AQTR for its Smog Alert program.
• In May 2012, the STL launched its new service: STL Sustainable Mobility Solution, designed for companies and organisations interested in better management of their employees' commutes.
• In May 2012, the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) presented the STL with its Corporate Leadership Award, in the Innovation category, for its CLIC project: carpooling with electric vehicles.
• In November 2012, the STL signed the UITP's (International Association of Public Transport) Charter on Sustainable Development as a committed member.

SOURCE: Société de transport de Laval

For further information:

Marie-Céline Bourgault
Director, Communications and marketing
Société de transport de Laval
450 662-5429
[email protected]