May/June 2024 - 31

M
CUTRIC is
working with bus
manufacturers
and BEB charger
manufacturers
to set a standard
of what will best
suit the needs
and wants of the
transit industry.
Photo: CUTRIC
odern technology has provided the transit industry with
cleaner, more efficient energy options, as agencies make the
switch to hybrid, zero-emission and battery-powered transit
vehicles. The Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation
Consortium (CUTRIC) is following this new era of transit
energy with the launch of Phase II of its Pan-Canadian Battery
Electric Bus Demonstration and Integration Trial.
By integrating competitive bus manufacturers with competitive
charging station manufacturers-all of whom are designing
and delivering interoperable high-powered charging systems
for electric buses-CUTRIC is working to set the standard
of what electric buses and their charging systems should be.
CUTRIC is working with multiple bus and charging unit
manufacturers with the goal of fostering market diversification,
which will help to provide transit agencies with a wider
range of solutions and mitigate risks associated with reliance
on a single supplier. This approach will work to promote
technological advancements and will help in the acceleration
of the technology.
How it all began
Phase I of the project began in 2016, using two transit vehicle
manufacturers (New Flyer Industries of Winnipeg,
Manitoba, and Nova Bus of St. Eustache, Quebec) and two
charging station manufacturers (ABB Group and Siemens
Canada). This group worked together to successfully deploy
24 battery-electric buses (BEBs) and seven chargers across
three transit agencies (Brampton Transit, TransLink and York
Region Transit). The deployment of the buses and chargers
began in 2019.
CUTRIC received positive feedback from Phase I of the
project, which has encouraged the program's direction and
development into the second phase. There was significant
industry excitement, with many transit agencies expressing
interest in participating in Phase II and a growing momentum
towards future collaborative projects.
Jess Smith, manager of commercialization and operations at
CUTRIC, owed the success of Phase I of the project to teamwork.
" CUTRIC's Pan-Canadian Electric Bus Demonstration &
Integration Trial succeeded because manufacturers, who are
typically competitors, collaborated closely in project meetings, "
Smith said. " This collaborative effort facilitated
shared solutions and accelerated
the interoperability of this technology. "
Smith notes the experience CUTRIC
has in project management has led to
the smooth transition between projects.
" Projects like this succeed because of
the project management expertise that
CUTRIC provides, ensuring smooth
coordination and effective implementation
from conception to completion, "
Smith said. " The not-for-profit nature
of CUTRIC's consortium creates an
environment that fosters collaboration
while ensuring a vested interest from its
members in the success of the projects. "
Phase II is on target to reach completion
by May 2024. CUTRIC's goal
moving into Phase II is to reach seamless
interoperability, streamlining the
adoption process of standard electric
bus and bus charging models, which
will help to foster competition and
innovation in the electric bus market.
Phase II includes comprehensive empirical
analysis work on the performance
of BEBs and chargers, battery degradation
and assesses diesel to electric
powertrain conversion efficiency.
This phase will also involve establishing
a data repository for zero-emission
public transit assets, enabling comparative
analysis and collaboration among
public fleets and transit agencies across
Canada. Reports coming out of Phase
II of the project will cover vehicle efficiency,
battery recycling opportunities,
thermal management, range barriers,
cybersecurity standards, support for
expanded operations, in-depot pantographs
and vehicle-to-grid integration.
" By pooling expertise and resources,
this approach mitigates risks, encourages
innovation and addresses technical challenges
more effectively, " Smith noted.
" CUTRIC's membership-model plays a
crucial role in facilitating collaborative
projects like this by bringing together a
network of stakeholders, including transit
agencies, manufacturers, government
entities and research institutions. "
The technology being used in the
program caters to modern needs of
transit agencies. The buses and overhead
electric charging stations used in
MAY/JUNE 2024 | MassTransitmag.com 31
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