By Pepper Parr
March 25th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
How did this happen?
Milton Town Council took possession of Canada’s first mid-life diesel-to-electric bus conversion. They received a project update and took the freshly wrapped electric bus for its first ride, as the bus prepares for road testing and high-voltage training.
The Town of Milton is working with Milton-based MTB Transit Solutions on this innovative conversion project.
Where is Burlington in the creation of its transit system from diesel to electric? Has Burlington decided to spend its transit budget on free bus service rather than moving the fleet to electric?
Milton has taken the lead in adding an electric bus to its transit fleet.
As Milton Transit explores electrifying its bus fleet, this pilot will provide useful details on charging, maintenance, performance, and cost related to the conversion process. Milton is the first municipality in Canada to pilot mid-life, diesel-to-battery-electric conversion technology on a transit bus.
Once in service, the 12-metre electric bus will eliminate tailpipe emissions and offer passengers reduced noise and vibration to make their experience more comfortable.
The bus will begin road testing in April to fine-tune features and procedures such as regenerative braking, battery performance, hill holds, passenger loading, route patterns, and acceleration. This will help Milton Transit understand and optimize the schedule when the bus enters regular service.
The Town and MTB will prepare the bus to enter service in summer 2025.
No mention of a price?
More important to know the brand . Lion in Quebec, heavily subsidized, is in bankruptcy. Also to know was this bus made in the states?