1200 Electric Buses on the road for Quebec
DRUMMONDVILLE, QC (July 4, 2021) – Girardin, a Quebec family business and leader in the electrification of the school bus industry, is proud to announce that agreements were concluded with independent bus operators to deliver 1200 electric school buses in the next few months. These agreements, that include buses A, C and D types, were concluded with 99 businesses representing all regions of the province of Quebec.
« The signed agreements for more than 1200 electric school buses were concluded up until now with only 99 clients with a pool totalizing 574 clients» highlights Michel Daneault, vice-president at Girardin. « When we will have completed the tour of all of our clients, we estimate that this number will be close to 3000 electric buses. This clearly demonstrates the confidence that our clients have towards Girardin and its products. Our clients well know our capacity to deliver and foremost, the excellent support that we are able to provide during this important transition towards electric transportation. »
The Girardin Group is pleased to actively participate in the electrification of transports in Québec. With this approach, Girardin will be able to contribute in a significant way to reach the deployment objectives of 65% of the bus parc before 2030 and reduce GES as set in the Quebec Government’s Plan for a green economy 2030 (PÉV).
« Quebec is a visionary and ambitious province when electrifying transports. We are proud to be invested in Quebec with Girardin for the manufacturing Blue Bird electric school buses and we are there to support them in their goals with our complete line of vehicles and our production capacity that is projected to 4000 electric school bus per year», commented Phil Horlock, Blue Bird's President.
It’s in the hands of the Quebec Government
The deployment of 1200 electric buses is imminent, but still conditional to the removal of restrictions and limitations that are being imposed on Girardin by the government, as well as the confirmation that Girardin’s full line of electric buses are admitted and eligible to the Ministry of Transportation.
The Micro Bird’s Electric G5 that are manufactured in Drummondville are already driven on the Quebec, Ontario and states of New York and California’s roads for more than four years. There are more than 500 Blue Bird Vision SEV, TX4 and Micro Bird Electric G5e buses who have already found an owner in North America, an increase of 250% in 2020. The electric school buses Vision SEV and TX4 are equipped with the TM4TM electric engine designed in Québec and will start their Quebec school bus routes starting this fall.
Girardin’s electric bus fleet offers a range averaging between 160 and 193km depending on the vehicle type and the selected battery option, while also representing a source of renewable energy being compatible with the vehicle-to-grid technology (V2G) by allowing buses to contribute to the electric grid. Girardin is the only manufacturer and distributor capable of offering zero emission buses thanks to a 100% electric heating system allowing for an additional reduction of greenhouse gases.
About Girardin
Celebrating more than 62 years un business, Girardin is the only manufacturer and distributor serving Quebec, Ontario, Maritimes and more recently New York and Connecticut in the United-States. Girardin is the official distributor of Blue Bird school bus and Micro Bird school minibuses the later being manufacturer in Quebec. Today, Girardin is the undisputed leader in alternative energies (Propane, CNG and Electric-propelled vehicles) in pupil, commercial, commute and specialized transportation. More information is available on Girardin’s website at www.girardinbluebird.com