These units are part of the first half of a fleet of four battery-electric units operated on route 100 in a 2.5-year trial that began in September 2019. Together with 19303 and 19304, they form part of the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC)'s Pan-Canadian Electric-Bus Demonstration and Integration Trial to study and promote electric-powered buses in the across Canada.
Procurement of these two buses, the two New Flyer XE40 coaches, and two charging stations were part of a $7-million investment approved in 2017 by the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors.[1] TransLink was the launch agency for the Pan-Canadian Electric-Bus Demonstration and Integration Trial.
These coaches were delivered without liveries, painted solid blue instead as they would enter service with special wraps. These buses are equipped with two batteries located on top of the bus and two at the back for a combined total of 76 kWh of power capable of approximately 40 kilometres in range. Deliveries began around May 2019 and went through various road tests before entering revenue service on September 11, 2019, after a media event. Unit 19301 would enter service on a later date a month later.
Along with 19303 and 19304, these are the last in the fleet to be delivered with TSI's analog Color Dome and IR Sideview CCTV cameras pre-installed, which were initially introduced pre-installed on the 2012 XDE60s.
Throughout late April to late June 2023 on Saturday early mornings, a combination of various battery-electric buses comprising of 19301, 19302, 19303, 19304, and 23201 made appearances on route 104 on block 8/100, doing a half trip from Annacis Island to 22nd Street Station. This marked the first semi-regular appearance of battery-electric buses outside of route 100.
Deployment
This entire series is based out of Hamilton, as it is the only depot with sufficient charging stations. These buses only run on the 100 Marpole/22nd Street Station route.