Over the next few weeks, you might notice a little addition to the transit system and the streets of Metro Vancouver — the 30-foot, Letenda Electrip battery-electric bus!

We’re currently testing the bus to understand if a vehicle like this could work in our region and help us achieve our goal of transitioning to a zero-emissions fleet by 2040.

You can first expect the Electrip to pop up on bus routes and in bus loops while we evaluate the charging, range, and reliability of the vehicle.

Then, you can experience the bus firsthand by riding it and providing feedback.

Hop on and take a ride!

We’re testing the Electrip on different bus routes across Metro Vancouver, starting on March 21, for two weeks.

It will be an extra bus placed in between already scheduled service. The bus will display a route number and destination just like the other buses.

Since it is a demonstration bus, it won’t be trackable through our real-time information tools and will not have Compass readers.

Rides on this bus are free during the trial. Instead of paying a fare, we’re encouraging customers to complete a short survey.

We want riders to share their experiences riding the Electrip bus, including what works well and what could be improved.

The Electrip bus

The Electrip bus, which comes from Quebec-based manufacturer Letenda, features a completely flat, low-floor interior.

It contains 22 seats and holds a maximum capacity of 44 passengers, placing its capacity between a 40-foot conventional bus and a community shuttle bus. It has a range of around 250 kilometres on its battery.

What’s unique about the bus is that it uses rear-axle steering. This means the bus is significantly more maneuverable than typical buses, with shorter turning radiuses and easier maneuverability into bus stops.

This trial will help inform future decisions on our bus fleet by providing us with insights if a bus like this would work for us and how it might be integrated.

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