Nova Bus receives follow-up order for 120 electric buses in Ottawa

Canadian transit operator OC Transpo has ordered another 120 electric buses of the LFSe+ type from Volvo subsidiary Nova Bus. A total of 175 electric buses have now reportedly been ordered in Ottawa to date.

Nova Bus will provide phased delivery of the additional 120 electric buses by the third quarter of 2027. All vehicles will be fully manufactured and assembled in Canada. The company has not disclosed the order value.

This new order follows a previous purchase by OC Transpo. In 2024, the transport operator ordered 51 LFSe+ units. Nova Bus now states that the total number of electric buses ordered so far is 175. However, this figure does not directly correspond to the two communicated orders. What is clear, however, is that the procurement is part of OC Transpo’s Zero-Emission Bus programme. The public transport operator – which operates in the Ottawa and Gatineau region – aims to fully transition its bus fleet to zero-emission drivetrains by 2036.

An established platform

The LFSe+ is based on Nova Bus’s established LFS platform, which the manufacturer highlights for its abilities in demanding winter and urban traffic conditions. In addition to the vehicles, Nova Bus supports OC Transpo with staff training, charging infrastructure optimisation, and technical support during operation.

Nova Bus and OC Transpo have been collaborating since 2017. Upon completion of the current deliveries, the manufacturer states it will have delivered a total of more than 400 buses of various drivetrain types to Ottawa.

The LFSe+ is also in use with other Canadian transport operators. In 2023, ten public transport operators in Québec placed a joint order for up to 1,229 electric buses, including 339 firm orders. Nova Bus states that more than 500 of its electric buses are now in operation across Canada.