This month, new hydrogen fuel cell electric buses are starting to arrive in Mississauga, making it the first municipality in Ontario to add these vehicles to its public transit system.
After city council approved the plan in September 2024, Mississauga purchased 10 hydrogen fuel cell electric buses that are expected to be operational and carrying passengers by early-to-mid 2027.
The total cost for this project is $25.4 million, as reported by Mi Way and set to be discussed at the city’s Transit Advisory Committee meeting on Sept. 15. Mi Way, which provides public transit in Mississauga, indicated that the city is contributing $14.4 million while the federal government covers the remaining $11 million.
Transit officials will inform committee members next week that deliveries of the new buses kick off this month, with all 10 expected to be delivered by April 2027.
Before these new electric buses can start operating, necessary preparations such as inspections and training will need to take place according to Mi Way.
Example of a hydrogen fuel cell electric bus. (Photo: City of Mississauga)
Once ready for service, these new buses will join a Mi Way fleet that currently includes around 500 public transit vehicles, making it Ontario’s third-largest municipal transit service after Toronto and Ottawa.
The city announced in September 2024 that Mississauga would lead Ontario as the first municipality testing hydrogen fuel cell electric buses within its transit operations.
Officials noted earlier that Mi Way’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Bus project represents a move towards more sustainable public transportation options since hydrogen serves as a cleaner alternative compared to diesel fuel.
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“If we’re going to be smart about climate change, we need to start looking into alternatives to diesel for our growing transit fleet and start investing in cleaner fuels and technologies,” Mayor Carolyn Parrish stated in late 2024. She added that this significant investment “will advance our understanding of hydrogen fuel and what it means for sustainable transportation options in the future. We’re committed to looking for innovative and low-emission solutions to reach our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Mississauga by 40 per cent by 2030.”
The city also mentioned its long-term aim is an emissions reduction of up to 80 per cent (from levels recorded in 1990) by the year 2050.
In addition, city transit officials highlighted back in 2024 that Mi Way is making substantial progress towards establishing a zero-emission transit system through major investments into its fleet.
“Since 2019, Mi Way has been working to replace its diesel buses and bring in lower-emission vehicles alongside now piloting and investing in new vehicle technologies like hydrogen fuel cell electric buses,” stated representatives from the local transit agency earlier.
The officials confirmed efforts aimed at enhancing the Mi Way fleet are supported by funding from the federal government’s Zero Emission Transit Fund which was approved for Mississauga back in December of last year.
(Cover photo of existing transit bus on the road: City of Mississauga)
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