Transit hydrogen fuelling station expected before end of year

Winnipeg Transit expects to have a new multimillion-dollar hydrogen fuelling station in place before the end of this year.

Since the city now has eight fuel-cell battery-electric buses and expects to order another 10, council’s public works chairwoman expects the facility will be well-utilized.

“Eventually, they’re not going to make diesel buses anymore and we will be dealing with hydrogen and electric, so this is not, by any means, a waste of money. This is going to serve what we have (now) and for the future,” said Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West).

A city tender seeks a company to build a new hydrogen generation and dispensing station to accommodate up to 20 of the fuel-cell buses.

Transit confirmed it has set aside about $9 million for equipment, design and construction management so far. The cost of the current contract will be added to that but won’t be known until the tender is awarded.

The station would be placed outdoors at Transit’s Fort Rouge garage property at 421 Osborne St., as part of the city’s zero-emission bus program.

A $280-million tri-government Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program agreement announced in 2022 will allow between 90 and 100 green buses to be added overall, with the rest being battery-electric (non-fuel-cell) models.

The hydrogen fuelling station was planned before city council voted to return to buying only diesel buses in 2027.

However, Lukes said she’s “very optimistic” more senior government funding will become available, so the city can afford to further expand Transit’s green fleet.

“Long-term, the goal is to continue with hydrogen and alternative (fuel) sources…. Hopefully, we’re going to be receiving federal and provincial support to do our fleet conversion,” she said.

Higher prices have always been an obstacle in the city’s transition from diesel to zero-emission buses. In February, Transit said a 12-metre diesel bus now costs approximately $900,000, while the city will pay about $1.56 million for each electric bus of the same size and $1.9 million per fuel-cell version.

Lukes said she expects a federal transit fund promised in March could help, which is expected to provide Winnipeg $11.5 million annually for transit planning and infrastructure. The federal Liberals said that fund would last 10 years, starting in 2026.

The city unveiled its first hydrogen fuel-cell battery-electric bus in February and now has eight of the vehicles, along with six of eight battery-electric vehicles it’s ordered so far. It expects to order 10 more fuel-cell models under ICIP, Transit confirmed Friday.

In an email, Transit spokesman Brandon Logan said the fuelling station is also supported by the tri-government agreement and current buses will make good use of it.

“Fuel-cell battery-electric buses have a design life of 18 years, so the station is planned to be in service for at least 18 years. If fewer than 20 buses are ultimately purchased, there would be capacity to support additional vehicles. The station can support fuelling other hydrogen vehicles, as (it) is equipped with a standard nozzle and wireless communication,” wrote Logan.

He said the hydrogen production could also be “scaled up or down” based on demand.

The city’s current hydrogen buses arrived with a fuel supply, Logan noted.

Transit did not grant an interview request Friday.

The city expects the fuelling station to be completed by Nov. 30.

City staff estimate each green bus replacement of a diesel vehicle would remove about 62 tonnes of greenhouse-gas emissions per year.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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