More hybrid-electric buses in the MiWay fleet

MiWay is adding 165 new, second-generation hybrid-electric buses to its bus fleet over the next year, and the first of these new buses has entered service.

The new buses, which are convertible to full battery power, will help to advance the City of Mississauga’s commitment to zero-emission buses in the Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) as MiWay prepares to integrate new and emerging technology to build a greener fleet.

The new buses include 127 forty-foot buses and 38 sixty-foot buses, which will bring the total number of hybrid-electric buses in MiWay’s bus fleet to 206, or about 41 per cent of the total bus fleet.

MiWay is progressing on its commitment to the environment and the City’s climate change goals by replacing its bus fleet with low or zero-emission vehicles, pursuing low or zero-emission pilot opportunities, and monitoring new bus technologies to stay up-to-date with industry trends. In order to meet the targets set out in the CCAP of reducing overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40 per cent by 2030, conventional diesel buses are no longer purchased.

Features of MiWay’s new hybrid-electric buses include:

• New theatre-style seats in the accessible seating area that flip up when not in use to offer more space and flexibility.
• USB outlets, located underneath the seats, which can be used to charge a cell phone or other mobile device.
• All-electric ‘Smart Rider’ accessible wheelchair ramp – capable of lateral kneeling and self-levelling to adjustable heights, assisting with customer safety.
• Start-stop engine technology that shuts down the engine while stopped at bus stops and automatically restarts when the brake is released – achieving up to 25 per cent fuel savings compared to a conventional diesel-powered bus.
• All electrically powered sub-systems such as power steering, HVAC, passenger door operation and air brake compressor.
• ‘Plug and play’ components that simplify the maintenance process.