RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years – All-Electric Bus

To demonstrate the impact that applied research projects make on all Manitobans, we present RPI’s 20 Stories for 20 Years. A compilation showcasing successful partnerships from the past and the present, with a constant focus on the future.
When the prototype was unveiled in 2012, Manitoba’s premier called the All-Electric Bus “the future of public transport.” He was right: the All-Electric Bus (e-bus) was one of Manitoba’s most impactful advanced-vehicle innovation projects.
This project began in 2010, when the Province of Manitoba signed an MOU with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to develop and demonstrate electric buses. Five partners assembled to make it happen: the Government of Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, MHI, New Flyer Industries (New Flyer) and RRC Polytech. The total value of the project was $3 million, with contributions of $1 million each from the Government of Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro and MHI.
Beyond investing in the e-bus and charging system development, the Province of Manitoba also contributed to the creation of an electric vehicle (EV) technology and education centre at RRC Polytech which was the foundation for the current Vehicle Technology & Energy Centre. VTEC continues to evolve and support EV technology innovation through applied research and training.

“RRC has played a key role alongside NFI and other companies in establishing Manitoba as a leader in heavy equipment and vehicle manufacturing, especially within the zero-emission space,” said Thomas Small, Director of New Product Development at New Flyer.
“The goal was to bring industry and academia together to demonstrate battery technology and application, including charging. In this project, the partnership was ideal as RRC Polytech became the conduit for the partners to accomplish these goals.”
The prototype bus was built using New Flyer’s advanced Xcelsior glider platform. It then went to VTEC to develop the charging infrastructure, compare different types of batteries and perform the data performance analysis. The final step, a limited-run operational demonstration, was a success.
It was finally time to start trying to take the e-bus, public.
The City of Winnipeg and the provincial government formed a joint task force on transit electrification with representatives from Manitoba Hydro, New Flyer and RRC Polytech.
“RRC Polytech was part of the Joint Task Force on Transit Electrification, which assessed the economics and the greenhouse gas emission profiles for electric transit buses relative to diesel buses,” said Jojo Delos Reyes, Program Manager, Research Partnerships & Innovation (RPI).
“One key component of integrating e-buses into the current fleet is providing training. This is where we saw an opportunity to approach Winnipeg Transit about supplemental training courses.”
New Flyer provides an intensive e-bus course to transit maintenance technicians across North America. While this training is immersive, the VTEC team saw a need for reskilling and upskilling transit mechanics and technicians in preparation for the New Flyer course.

So VTEC worked with Winnipeg Transit to develop the Electric Bus Technology program, which focuses on battery safety and electrical fundamentals.
“We have delivered this program several times, and we are known for it, specifically thanks to the training aids developed by VTEC in partnership with the industry,” said Delos Reyes.
NFI still regularly works with RRC Polytech to develop and validate its e-bus offerings.
“With the availability of the MotiveLab™, NFI is able to test a number of designs locally rather than move the vehicle and personnel to other test facilities. We also see RRC Polytech as a resource for a sounding board for various design issues we may come across,” said Small.
“As for battery technology, we have many suppliers that we leverage, however, the initial project experience gave us a good foundation in understanding the nuances of the technology from battery chemistry, controls, charging, etc.”
Speaking of batteries, the e-bus project also gave RRC Polytech access to the battery technology that would later be used in the 2021 EV Tundra Buggy project.
“The EV Tundra Buggy would not have been possible without the batteries from New Flyer,” said Delos Reyes. “Mainly because of the high cost of buying new batteries compared to using free, and safe-to-use repurposed batteries.”
Currently, the staff and students at VTEC are leading the Electric School Bus Conversion project in partnership with Noble Northern (the company that supported the Tundra Buggy conversion).
“RRC Polytech has been leading the way in EV technology for a number of years and we’re proud to work with our partners to expand the technology to different types of vehicles,” said Delos Reyes. “Reducing emissions and sourcing renewable energies for fuel is one of the ways we are hoping to make a positive impact on our environment and create a sustainable future.”
