Room: International AB
Sponsor(s)
 
Session Description
Winnipeg Transit: What to Expect When YouÂ’re Expecting an eBus
Moderator: Karen Cameron – OPTA
Speaker: Erin Cooke – Winnipeg Transit
Congratulations, youÂ’ve just learned youÂ’re expecting Zero-emission buses now what? This presentation highlights lessons learned from a first time ZEB procurement. This presentation will appeal to transit agencies who are just starting to plan their ZEB journey, but will include unique insight that may be of interest to any transit agency procuring ZEBs, as Winnipeg Transits procurement of 60ft ZEBs and both battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell buses at the same time is unique in Canada.
Winnipeg Transit will be putting its first 16 zero-emission buses into service this year, but planning for this began back in 2022. In this session Winnipeg Transit go over the steps in its ZEB procurement journey from planning procurement to putting the buses in-service. We will share lessons weÂ’ve learned while trying to integrate 4 different types of ZEBs and keeping 27-year old buses in service while waiting for them to arrive. Our journey has including while navigating unprecedented price escalations, productions delays following the Covid-19 pandemic, the near collapse of a seating supplier, further delays resulting OEM fiscal recovery, as well as, unexpected changes to planned charging and hydrogen infrastructure.
This presentation will highlight:
· key decisions point in the bus procurement process;
· new contract terms to consider in ZEB contracts including milestones and LDs as well as training, tooling;
· Adapting APTA Whitebook Battery electric specs for your transit agency;
· Developing technical specs for fuel cell buses without APTA whitebook guidance;
· prepared staff in advance of the arrival of the buses;
· training technicians to service and maintain the buses.
· Impacts of ZEB manufacturing delays;
· Contingences for infrastructure delays;
· The importance of in-factory inspectors;
· Escalations of quality and delivery issues; and
· What we would do differently.
Hopefully hearing about our journey will help others prepare for the arrival of their own new ZEBs.
Key take-aways
1. ZEB procurement creates a number of new challenges for transit agencies, and it is important to include new technical and contractual terms in your contract to minimize operational and financial risk.
2. Trying to align bus and infrastructure procurements can be challenging, but transit agencies can learn from those that have gone before them and better prepare for these challenges
3. Its important to celebrate the arrival of your new ZEBs and prepare for the next steps to come.
Speaker(s) / Presenter(s)
Bio: Erin has over 20 years of experience designing and managing technology projects. She leads Winnipeg TransitÂ’s Transition to Zero Emission Bus program, where she has oversight of all capital and operational projects related to the integration of battery-electric and (hydrogen) fuel cell electric buses. Erin participates on various transit tasks forces, committees, and working groups on topics including infrastructure, funding, service integration, energy management, codes and standards, training, and safety. Erin has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Manitoba and is currently pursuing a Master of Environment and Business at the University of Waterloo.