Nova Bus LFSe+ bus (Courtesy Nova Bus)

Nova Bus has announced its largest electric bus contract to date — up to 60 of the LFSe+ models to be delivered to Halifax Transit.

The Halifax Regional Council has authorized the purchase of up to 30 of the buses between now and 2023, and up to 30 more from 2023 to 2024.

The LFSe+ is 40-foot, long-range, battery electric model. It can seat up to 41 passengers, with 27 standees. It has modular battery options capable of storing up to 564 kWh while offering both overhead and plug-in charging. The vehicles can travel 340 to 470 kms when fully charged.

The order is part of Halifax’s goal to electrify 50 per cent of its fleet by 2028 and to achieve net-zero emissions across the municipality by 2050. Halifax Transit currently has 255 Nova Bus vehicles in its fleet.

“We are extremely proud to partner with Halifax Transit for its first major order of fully electric buses,” said Martin Larose, Nova Bus’ president in a prepared statement.

“We strongly believe in supporting transit agencies with their transition to electromobility in order to achieve our collective goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We couldn’t be happier to be part of the solution by accompanying our long-term customer Halifax Transit on this journey and to support the Halifax Regional Municipality in its efforts towards (sic) a zero-emission economy.”

Nova Bus, headquartered in Saint-Eustache, Que. just north of Montreal, is a member of Volvo Group. Its portfolio includes electric, hybrid, compressed natural gas and “clean diesel” buses, high-capacity vehicles as well as integrated intelligent transport systems.

Recent Nova Bus contracts

In February, Nova was awarded its largest electric bus contract in the U.S. for 20 LFSe+ models in addition to 20 options by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County in Houston.

At the end of March, Nova became the first corporate partner of the Canadian Urban Transit Association, the national organization for both public and private transit.

In May, Nova won a bid to deliver 135 40-foot transit buses to the New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Deliveries are expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2022 and will be completed by the second quarter of 2023. The buses will be assembled at Nova’s facility in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

SustainableBiz previously reported on Nova Bus in March, 2021, on its contract to deliver 15 long-range electric buses to Milwaukee County.

Volvo intends to go fully electric by 2030.