ST. ALBERT TRANSIT
2013 New Flyer XE40 SR1723 Battery/ Electric

Currently, though the end of March 2015, St. Albert is testing a New Flyer Xcelsior XE40 battery electric bus. This particular bus was built in January 2013 as a prototype bus. The number it carries is a number used by New Flyer but with St. Albert Transit, it is showing as 862 on the Next Bus tracker. (As of March 18 862 is back and the XE40 isn't showing on Next Bus). This bus entered service on Friday, March 6, 2015.
The setup on this bus only allows for around 4 hours of service on a charge, compared to upwards of 10 hours claimed by BYD for their bus. As a result, the runs the New Flyer is used on are a lot shorter than what the BYD operated on. However, the New Flyer bus is also equipped for on street fast charging which allows it to recharge while on route and could allow service all day. While this is part of the testing in Winnipeg, St. Albert's bus is just recharged at the garage. The New Flyer is also more or less a standard New Flyer bus, and also features a diesel fuel heater for providing heat during the winter months. The first BYD tested didn't have a heater that would be effective in a Canadian winter, however, the second BYD's that were supposed to come to Edmonton and St. Albert would be so equipped, however, those are delayed until next winter by the sounds of it.
This bus is equipped with lithium ion batteries, and a Siemens drive which converts DC current from the batteries to 3 phase AC for the traction motor. Due to the amount of batteries and equipment on the roof of the XE40, the bus produces a noticeable lean through corners!

Sources:
http://www.newflyer.com/index/electricbus
http://www.metronews.ca/news/edmonton/1285579/electric-bus-not-coming-to-edmonton-this-winter-city-officials/
http://www.stalbert.ca/city-hall/news/news-releases/newer-bus-fewer-fumes
http://www.stalbertgazette.com/article/20150307/SAG0804/303079981/1039
All retrieved March 15, 2015.

Thumbnail	Bus #	Date	Description
	SR1723	March 9, 2015	SR1723 turning at the St. Albert Exchange on a route A6. Note the lean! Yes, I had positioned myself further down with good sunlight although I knew that the A6 went back out at the other end of the terminal... I didn't realize buses made that turn since my visits to St. Albert are not too common. Although, when I shot the BYD on the A6 it did go straight south through the terminal.
	SR1723	March 9, 2015	SR1723 turning at the St. Albert Exchange as a route A6.
	SR1723	March 9, 2015	Interior towards the front of SR1723.
	SR1723	March 9, 2015	Ad cards on SR1723.
	SR1723	March 13, 2015	SR1723 at Westmount heading inbound to the U of A as a route 203.

This page last updated March 15, 2015