ETS History leading up to the Proterra bus purchase
A little bit more than 11 years after the demise of the trolleybus system, electric buses returned
to the ETS fleet in the form of battery electric buses. #8002 was the first to enter service on August 4, 2020,
departing from Century Park as a route 17 Southgate.
The original procurement called for 25 buses. This was increased to 40 with additional
provincial government funding, and reached a peak of 50 with 10 electric buses
tied to the Terwillegar Expressway bus lanes, projected for delivery in
2021. With removal of certain provincial funding in October 2019, and buses
already on the production line and committed to the first 40, Edmonton had to
move around funding to fund the first 40 buses.
On September 17, 2019 the first of two Proterra CAT40DP's arrived in Edmonton as
initial trial, testing, and training buses. Their fleet numbers were 6014 and
6015. Delivered in all-white, they would later receive full wraps while in
Edmonton.
The first 21 production buses began arriving in Edmonton in March 2020, with the
remaining 19 delivered into the Fall of 2020. The buses
were used extensively on driver training out of Centennial Garage through to
July 2020. They were unveiled to the media on July 23, 2020 with the first
units entering service out of Centennial on August 4, 2020. Following this,
training shifted to the Kathleen Andrews Transit Garage with the first buses
from Kathleen Andrews entering service on October 5, 2020.
After the buses entered service, Proterra came out with new branding which seems
to explain some of the roof styling differences of the Edmonton buses compared
to other recent deliveries (like the TTC). This new style is called the ZX5.
None the less, the VIN plates on Edmonton's still refer to the buses as model
CAT40DP which is inline with previous Catalyst branding for at least the first
21 buses. Indeed, originally in the press releases Proterra referred to Edmonton's
buses as "Catalyst E2 Max". Unfortunately, Proterra hasn't exactly had clear
naming conventions in the past regarding model nomenclature and it has
varied in a short time span, to the point that explanations were required in a
Altoona Bus test report.
Previously, we were going to refer to the buses as "CAT40DP E2 Max". The VIN plate shows
CAT40DP which breaks down as:
CAT= Catalyst family of products
40= basic length
DP= DuoPower drivetrain (2 205 kW motors, which is claimed to increase
efficiency)
We are also including "E2 Max". Proterra has had a few model numbers
over the years, and have used numbers and letters to indicate charging scheme
and battery capacity in past model numbers and in advertising material. In this
case, "E2 Max" indicates their depot charging 660 kW battery configuration, and
was included in press releases calling the buses "Catalyst E2 Max".
Indications (in an Altoona Bus Test report) are that the new model number is ZX5DP.
The buses are powered by two hub mounted Parker GVM310-125 205 kW electric motors and Eaton EEV-7202 two speed transmissions.
Buses #8000-8009 are based at Centennial Garage and #8010-8039 are based at Kathleen Andrews Transit Garage.
Buses #8002, 8003, 8005, 8006, 8008, 8009, 8011-8014, 8017-8020 were delivered in a special electric bus livery, but were all repainted into the standard ETS livery as of August 2021.
Sources:
Report to Council April 24, 2012: Costs and Opportunities of Liquid Natural Gas
Buses (yes, misleading title as that is LNG, not CNG).
Minutes of Transportation Committee Meeting July 10, 2013
Report to the Transportation Committee on October 29, 2014: Update on Compressed
Natural Gas Buses (they got the title right this time).
Electric Bus Feasibility Study June 2016:
https://www.edmonton.ca/documents/transit/ETS_Electric_Feasibility_Study.pdf
Video recording City Council Executive Committee Meeting September 5, 2017
Report to Council September 2017 Capital Financial Update
EDMONTON TRANSIT SERVICE ORDERS 25 PROTERRA CATALYST® E2 MAX ELECTRIC BUSES
August 23, 2018:
https://www.proterra.com/press-release/edmonton-transit-service-orders-25-proterra-catalyst-e2-max-electric-buses/
Edmonton Transit Service Unveils Fleet of Record-Breaking Proterra Catalyst® E2
Max Electric Buses and Innovative Electric Bus Garages July 23, 2020:
https://www.proterra.com/press-release/edmonton-unveils-proterra-electric-buses/
ETS Electric Buses:
https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/transit/electric-buses.aspx
| Thumbnail | Bus # | Date | Description |
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8000 | August 26, 2020 | ETS #8000 running SB on 106 Street at 118 Avenue as a route 15. |
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8001 | October 19, 2020 | ETS #8001 Eastbound on Jasper Ave at 107 St as a 135 Downtown... not quite. It was doing a 5 Downtown and I got a bit notstalgic and "Paintshopped" it to be a 135. Once ETS consolidated the 135 with the 5, the former 135 trips became 5 Downtown short turns. |
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8002 | August 4, 2020 | ETS #8004 arriving at Century Park Transit Centre as a route 74 on the day the Proterra's entered service. |
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8002 | August 4, 2020 | ETS #8004 at Century Park Transit Centre as a route 74 on the day the Proterra's entered service. |
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8002 | August 4, 2020 | ETS #8004 at Century Park Transit Centre as a route 74 on the day the Proterra's entered service. |
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8002 | August 5, 2020 | ETS #8002 at Southgate Transit Centre as a route 74. |
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8002 | August 10, 2020 | ETS #8002 southbound on 83 St, crossing the under construction Valley Line Southeast LRT outside of Boonie Doon Shopping Centre, while working an AM route 80. |
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8002 | August 10, 2020 | ETS #8002 Eastbound on 104 Ave and 101 St as a route 15. |
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8002 | October 2, 2020 | ETS #8008 arriving at Mill Woods Town Centre as a route 74. |
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8003 | August 5, 2020 | ETS #8003 departing Millgate after working a route 84 during the PM peak. |
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8004 | April 29, 2020 | ETS #8004 at Centennial Garage waiting to depart on a training run. |
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8004 | April 29, 2020 | ETS #8004 departing Centennial Garage on a training run. |
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8004 | April 29, 2020 | ETS #8004 departing Centennial Garage on a training run. |
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8004 | August 10, 2020 | ETS #8004 Southbound on 109 St, waiting to turn onto 104 Ave after entering service a few moments before as a route 15 Mill Woods Transit Centre. |
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8004 | August 21, 2020 | ETS #8004 arriving at West Edmonton Mall as a route 122. |
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8005 | October 21, 2020 | ETS #8005 at Southgate on a layover, waiting to go into service as a route 74. |
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8005 | October 21, 2020 | ETS #8005 at Southgate on a layover, waiting to go into service as a route 74. |
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8006 | October 13, 2020 | ETS #8006 at the South Campus Transit Centre as a route 30. |
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8007 | August 19, 2020 | ETS #8007 running NB on 109 Street approaching 105 Avenue as a route 15. |
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8007 | August 25, 2020 | ETS #8007 at Millgate Transit Centre as a route 92. |
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8007 | August 25, 2020 | ETS #8007 at Millgate Transit Centre as a route 92. |
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8008 | August 19, 2020 | ETS #8008 running SB on 106 Street approaching 47 Avenue as a route 80. |
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8008 | August 19, 2020 | ETS #8008 not in service running SB on 109 Street at 105 Avenue. The bus entered service as a PM route 15 extra from this timing point. |
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8009 | October 30, 2020 | ETS #8009 departing Kingsway / Royal Alex Transit Centre as a route 143. |
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8010 | May 28, 2020 | ETS #8010 arriving at Centennial Garage while on pre-service driver training. |
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8011 | October 21, 2020 | ETS #8011 arriving at Kingsway/ Royal Alex Transit Centre as a route 143. |
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8012 | December 24, 2020 | ETS #8012 parked on MacDonald Drive WB at 102 Street as a route 140. |
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8013 | December 18, 2020 | ETS #8013 arriving at Northgate as a route 161. |
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8014 | December 21, 2020 | ETS #8014 running NB on 105 Street just North of Jasper Avenue as a route 88. |
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8014 | December 28, 2020 | ETS #8014 running EB on Jasper Avenue at 109 Street as a route 1. |
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8015 | October 8, 2020 | ETS #8015 running NB on 107 Street at 104 Avenue as a route 2. |
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8016 | May 28, 2020 | ETS #8016 running NB on Rabbit Hill Road approaching 23 Avenue while on pre-service driver training. |
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8017 | August 5, 2020 | ETS #8017 Westbound on Jasper Ave at 107 St as a route 100 West Edmonton Mall. At the time, this bus was running out of Centennial. It would later move to Andrews. |
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8017 | August 10, 2020 | ETS #8017 departing the Government Centre Transit Centre as a route 52 with the Federal Building in the background. |
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8017 | August 10, 2020 | ETS #8017 back now after doing it's Downtown loop, departing Southbound from the Government Centre Transit Centre as a route 52. |
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8017 | August 10, 2020 | Interior toward the front of ETS #8017. |
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8017 | August 10, 2020 | The driver's area of ETS #8017. |
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8017 | October 13, 2020 | ETS #8017 at the Cromdale Loop as a route 3 Jasper Place with a D40LFR on driver training in behind. |
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8017 | October 13, 2020 | ETS #8017 at the Cromdale Loop as a route 3 Jasper Place. |
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8017 | October 13, 2020 | ETS #8017 at the Cromdale Loop as a route 3 Jasper Place. |
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8018 | December 28, 2020 | ETS #8018 turning onto 104 Avenue WB from 105 Street NB as a route 162. |
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8018 | December 31, 2020 | ETS #8018 arriving at Coliseum as a route 141. |
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8018 | December 31, 2020 | ETS #8018 arriving at Coliseum as a route 142. |
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8019 | November 19, 2020 | ETS #8019 deadheading back to Andrews via Jasper Ave after working an AM peak route 16. |
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8020 | April 29, 2020 | ETS #8020 pulling out of Centennial. The bus was likely on a test run (as opposed to training) |
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8020 | April 29, 2020 | ETS #8020 pulling out of Centennial. The bus was likely on a test run (as opposed to training) |
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8020 | October 30, 2020 | ETS #8020 departing Kingsway as a route 12. |
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8020 | October 30, 2020 | ETS #8020 departing Kingsway as a route 12. |
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8021 | November 19, 2020 | ETS #8021 Eastbound on Jasper Ave crossing 101 St as a route 120 Stadium. The bus is displaying the Remembrance Day "Lest We Forget" signage. |
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8021 | November 20, 2020 | ETS #8021 Southbound on 101 St at Jasper Ave as a route 134. |
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8021 | November 20, 2020 | ETS #8021 Southbound on 101 St at Jasper Ave as a route 134 |
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8022 | November 20, 2020 | ETS #8022 at Coliseum working a school special 10S Eastglen. |
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8022 | November 20, 2020 | ETS #8022 at Coliseum working a school special 10S Eastglen. |
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8022 | December 23, 2020 | ETS #8022 at Government Centre as a route 162. |
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8023 | December 11, 2020 | ETS #8023 running SB on Manning Drive approaching 142 Avenue as a route 193. |
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8024 | November 20, 2020 | ETS #8024 on it's first day of service, Westbound on Jasper Ave at 100A St as a route 162 Government Centre Express. |
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8024 | December 21, 2020 | ETS #8024 arriving at Mill Woods Town Centre as a route 15. |
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8025 | December 9, 2020 | ETS #8025 running SB on 107 Street approaching 103 Avenue as a route 2. |
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8026 | December 11, 2020 | ETS #8026 arriving at Belvedere as a route 154 on its first day in revenue service. |
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8027 | November 20, 2020 | ETS #8027 Southbound on 101 St, about to turn onto Jasper Ave as a route 16 Government Centre. |
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8027 | November 20, 2020 | ETS #8027 Southbound on 101 St, turning onto Jasper Ave as a route 16 Government Centre. |
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8028 | November 19, 2020 | ETS #8028 Northbound on 101 St at Jasper Ave as a route 151 Castle Downs. |
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8029 | November 20, 2020 | ETS #8029 departing Clareview Transit Centre as a route 182 Northgate. |
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8029 | November 20, 2020 | ETS #8029 departing Clareview Transit Centre as a route 182 Northgate. |
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8030 | December 16, 2020 | ETS #8030 at Castle Downs as a route 161. |
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8030 | December 16, 2020 | ETS #8030 turning onto 157 Avenue WB from Castle Downs Road NB as a route 161. |
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8031 | December 23, 2020 | ETS #8031 turning onto MacDonald Drive WB from 101 Street SB as a route 140. |
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8032 | March 12, 2021 | ETS #8032 running SB on 156 Street approaching 100a Avenue as a route 3. |
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8032 | March 12, 2021 | ETS #8032 at Jasper Place as a route 3. |
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8033 | December 9, 2020 | ETS #8033 running EB on Jasper Avenue at 112 Street as a route 120 on its first day in revenue service. |
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8033 | March 30, 2021 | ETS #8033 running SB on 97 Street under the former CNR underpass as a route 3. |
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8033 | March 30, 2021 | ETS #8033 at the CN Tower loop as a route 3, with #8035 departing as a route 140. |
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8034 | December 16, 2020 | ETS #8034 arriving at Westmount as a route 125. |
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8034 | March 12, 2021 | ETS #8034 running WB on 107 Avenue at 112 Street as a route 3. |
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8035 | January 7, 2021 | ETS #8035 at Coliseum as a route 143 on its first day in revenue service. |
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8035 | January 7, 2021 | ETS #8035 departing Coliseum as a route 143. |
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8036 | March 29, 2021 | ETS #8036 on 108 Street SB approaching 111 Avenue as a route 12. |
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8037 | December 16, 2020 | ETS #8037 turning onto 111 Avenue EB from 108 Street SB as a route 12 on its first day in revenue service. |
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8037 | December 16, 2020 | ETS #8037 at Kingsway as a route 12. |
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8037 | December 16, 2020 | Interior toward the rear of ETS #8037. |
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8037 | March 29, 2021 | ETS #8037 turning onto 158 Avenue WB from 66 Street NB as a route 180. |
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8038 | January 6, 2021 | ETS #8038 turning onto 108 Street SB from Kingsway Avenue EB as a route 12 on its first day in revenue service. |
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8038 | January 6, 2021 | The rear of ETS #8038. |
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8039 | April 22, 2021 | ETS #8039 running SB on 109 Street approaching 107 Avenue as a route 130. |
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8039 | April 22, 2021 | The rear of ETS #8039. |
This page last updated on April 29, 2021.