The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) has taken delivery of its first LFSe+ electric bus manufactured by Nova Bus. The vehicle is part of an order for 147 vehicles that will support the agency’s ongoing fleet renewal programme.
The bus is the first unit in a wider procurement, with ten additional vehicles expected in the coming months and full delivery scheduled by 2028.
Before entering regular service, the vehicle will undergo a four-week testing phase while operating out of service, during which STM teams will assess its components and performance.
STM is currently reviewing the pace of its transition towards full electrification of its bus network, citing a challenging financial context. In February, the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable authorised transit agencies to continue purchasing hybrid buses and announced plans to revise existing electrification targets.
The agency said it considers a mixed fleet approach, combining hybrid and electric buses, to be a practical option during the transition phase, pointing to operational reliability and cost stability.
Once the full order is delivered, electric buses will represent around 10 percent of STM’s total bus fleet.
The LFSe+ includes several design updates, including an operator’s cab fitted with an anti-assault door.
The bus is also equipped with six batteries, providing an estimated range of around 300 kilometres, alongside a quieter motor system that includes an external pedestrian warning sound for safety.
Other updates include improved lighting at doorways to assist boarding and alighting, a revised interior layout, and an audible alert when front doors open to support passengers with visual impairments. The heating and air conditioning system has also been adjusted to improve airflow distribution throughout the vehicle.
The bus accommodates 28 seats, including 21 fixed seats and seven fold-down seats.
The purchase has been supported through funding from the Government of Quebec under the Public Transit Infrastructure Funding Programme.
