Zenobē and Brampton lead CA$4 billion initiative to electrify transit bus fleet in landmark UK-Canada collaboration
- CA$4B to fund one of North America's largest single zero-emission bus initiatives
- Initiative expected to support 5,000 direct and indirect jobs across U.K. and Canada
- Funding to mark the first phase of broader electrification agreement and framework which will lead to full decarbonisation of the transit network of one of Canada's fastest growing cities
- Partnership showcases the landmark collaboration between public and private sectors in the U.K. and Canada, and is expected to serve as a model for other zero-emission projects
LONDON, U.K. AND BRAMPTON, ON, June 15, 2025 /CNW/ -- Zenobē, a global fleet electrification and battery storage specialist headquartered in London, and the City of Brampton, Ontario, today announced their leadership of a group of U.K. and Canada-based partners including TD Securities Inc. and OEMs that will launch a CA$4 billion partnership to support the zero emissions transition of the Brampton Transit bus fleet. This effort will mark the first phase of a 10-year electrification framework, serving Toronto's largest suburb and supporting the transition to a zero-emission public transit system.
This initiative highlights the power of public and private partnerships and will bring CA$1B foreign investment into Canada, further strengthening U.K.-Canadian business ties.
The Brampton project is one of the largest zero-emission bus (ZEB) programs in North America, offering substantial environmental and social benefits. ZEBs reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve local air quality and decrease noise pollution — all of which contribute to healthier, cleaner communities.
The partnership intends to bring 1,000 electric buses to the roads and replace the city's existing diesel vehicles. It will initially support current routes and ridership numbers of more than 40 million passengers annually, with the first phase of the project's infrastructure is expected to go live in early 2027.
As part of this partnership, Brampton will procure electric buses from Canadian suppliers, with planning and design, software, supply chain relationships and capital markets expertise provided by the Zenobē team. The initiative also includes comprehensive technical experience and expertise from the U.K. and dedicated electrical and civil engineering teams on the ground in Brampton.
Hon. Fouzia Younis, U.K.'s Consul-General to Ontario, announced: "This landmark partnership between Zenobē and the City of Brampton is a powerful example of how U.K.-Canada collaboration can deliver real-world solutions to global challenges. It showcases the U.K.'s leadership in clean transport and infrastructure, while creating skilled jobs and driving innovation on both sides of the Atlantic. I am thrilled to see British expertise helping to shape a more sustainable future for one of Canada's fastest-growing cities, and we look forward to this project serving as a model for future international cooperation."
Steven Meersman, Co-Founder and Director, Zenobē, commented: "We bring considerable experience working with local and federal public sector partners to enable and accelerate their transition to electric fleets. Our customized match-funding options, combined with the experience from delivering over 120 electric depots globally, lowers costs and de-risks the inevitable path to zero-emission fleets. We are delighted to grow our presence in Canada, and with Brampton, as we jointly achieve their financial and ecological objectives. We expect this will serve as a model for other projects currently under development."
Hon. Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, Member of Parliament, Brampton East noted: "The U.K. is one of our oldest and closest trading partners and I am very excited that our relationship will deepen even more through the investment partnership between the City of Brampton and Zenobē. As Canada continues our efforts on trade diversification, this investment by U.K. partners is great news for our economy, creating thousands of jobs."
Brampton Mayor, Patrick Brown, stated: "This historic investment marks a turning point for Brampton and for public transit across Canada. By transitioning to a fully electric bus fleet, we're not only reducing emissions — we're creating jobs, improving air quality, and building a cleaner, healthier future for our residents. Brampton is proud to lead one of North America's largest zero-emission transit projects, and we are grateful to our partners in the U.K. and Canada for helping make this bold vision a reality."
Heidi Dempster, General Manager, Transit, City of Brampton, remarked: "With one of the largest zero-emission bus programs in North America, Brampton is setting a new standard for sustainable, modern public transit. Beyond reducing emissions and improving air quality for our residents, this partnership will also drive local economic growth, creating thousands of jobs and building expertise right here in Brampton. We're proud to work alongside Zenobē and all partners as we deliver on Council's vision for a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient future for one of Canada's fastest-growing communities."
Founded in 2017, Zenobē has helped transform the public transport sector by introducing largescale fleet electrification backed by innovative debt financing and leading expertise in optimising operations. Today, it supports over 2,000 electric vehicles in the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K. This announcement solidifies Zenobē's position as a global leader in heavy-duty fleet electrification. Zenobē provides end-to-end electrification solutions to public and commercial fleet operators, including financing, charging infrastructure and a battery managed service.
Zenobē's joint majority shareholders are KKR and M&G Infracapital, who provided £870 million (CA$1.6 billion) of equity in 2023 for global investment into electric vehicles and grid-scale batteries.
About Zenobē Energy Ltd. (Zenobē):
Zenobē is an EV fleet and grid-scale battery storage specialist, headquartered in the U.K. The company began operations in 2017 and now employs >380 FTEs with a wide range of leading skills including electrical engineering, software development, computer sciences and financing.
Zenobē has around a 25% market share of the U.K. EV bus sector and supports over 2,000 electric vehicles across 120 depots globally. The company is the largest owner and operator of EV buses in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. Zenobē is also the leading owner and operator of grid-scale batteries on the Great Britain transmission network with >1GW of battery storage assets in operation or under construction.
Zenobē's North American headquarters are in Chicago, with a subsidiary office in New York. It is actively hiring in Canada and the U.S. For more information visit zenobe.com or LinkedIn.
About Brampton Transit
Brampton Transit is one of Canada's fastest-growing transit systems, providing safe, reliable, and accessible service across Brampton and the Greater Toronto Area. With a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, and customer service, Brampton Transit connects people to where they live, work, learn, and play. In 2024, Brampton Transit proudly served over 43 million riders, marking a significant milestone in our journey of growth and service excellence.
Learn more at www.bramptontransit.com. Follow Brampton Transit on X, Facebook and Instagram.
About Brampton
As one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada, Brampton is home to nearly 800,000 people and more than 110,000 businesses. People are at the heart of everything we do. We are energized by our diverse communities, we attract investment and we are embarking on a journey to lead technological and environmental innovation. We partner for progress to build a healthy city that is safe, sustainable and successful.
Connect with us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Learn more at brampton.ca
SOURCE Zenobē North America
Press Contacts: Zenobē: [email protected], City of Brampton: [email protected]
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