In Victoria, British Columbia, BC Transit has been awarded a contract to produce 20 hydrogen buses. These hybrid electric fuel cell buses will help the province cut greenhouse gases by the target of 33-percent by the year 2020.
The $46.4 million contract was presented to New Flyer Industries of Winnipeg. The hydrogen buses are expected to last for 20 years, have a top speed of 55 mph and a range of 300 miles. These same hydrogen buses are expected to be a large part of the hydrogen transportation system showcased during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
The buses will be part of the British Columbia Hydrogen Highway system that is being built from Victoria to Whistler that also includes Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey and Squamish. This highway system will eventually link to Highway 5 in Washington State and run through Oregon and all the way to San Diego, California.