A Day in the Life of a Zero-Emission Bus

It’s 3 am, and while most of Ottawa is still asleep, our fleet of Zero-Emission Buses (ZEBs) are powering up at St-Laurent South Garage. Among the rows of electric vehicles, bus 2105 stands fully charged and amped up for a day of service.

Welcome to a day in the life of one of OC Transpo’s ZEBs, where environmentally-friendly technology meets every day public service. Join The Next Stop Blog and come behind the scenes to learn what a typical day is for one of our ZEBs and how they are transforming Ottawa’s transit system.

The Start of Something Silent

The day kicks off at St. Laurent North, where a bus operator grabs their route docket, a route cheat sheet that tells them everything they need to know about their assigned bus and route for the day.

Next, the operator heads to the newly upgraded St-Laurent South Garage, where ZEBs rest and recharge under overhead pantographs overnight. After a quick walkaround and safety check, the operator boards bus 2105. Unlike its diesel cousins, 2105 hums to life silently, so quietly, in fact, that it’s equipped with an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) to make sure pedestrians hear it coming.

On the Road—With a Tech Twist

With the route code punched in, 2105 updates exterior information signs which have been changed to white lights making them clearer. Inside, upgraded, full-colour information screens show upcoming stops, estimated arrival times and helpful transit information.

Though capable of going up to 330 kilometres on a single charge, ZEBs are strategically placed on routes between 100–250 kilometres that end close to their home garage to ensure they can return to base for another charge. Whether it's rain, snow, or bumper-to-bumper traffic, these buses are ready, and each route is carefully selected with real-world conditions in mind.

“It’s electrifying to serve your city,” says 2105 (if it could talk, of course.)

Charging Back Up

After covering 250 kilometres of city streets picking up and dropping off riders, 2105 returns to the South Garage. There, an employee known as a Bus Placer directs it to a specific lane for recharging. Once perfectly aligned to a floor marker, the charging dance begins. The pantograph above flashes green, lowers its arm, and makes contact with the charging port on top of the bus. The light changes to blue, meaning charging is in progress.

This seamless process wasn’t easy. It took two years of major garage upgrades, from concrete repairs and new sprinkler systems to full electrical overhauls, charging cabinets, and those powerful pantographs themselves. But now, charging a fleet of ZEBs is just another daily routine.

Not Done Yet

Though fully recharged in just 4 hours, ZEBs like 2105 can be pulled into action at a moment’s notice. The Bus Placer keeps the operation flowing, always assigning the right ZEB to the right route at the right time. Efficiency never sleeps.

At the end of its final shift, 2105 rolls back to South Garage one last time for a full “Countdown,” a routine that includes farebox collection, a quick clean, safety inspection, and a ride through the bus wash to get shiny and street-ready for the next day.

The Bigger Picture

Each ZEB represents more than just a quieter ride, they’re key players in the City of Ottawa’s climate goals, saving over 25,000 litres of fuel annually and helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our ZEB fleet continues to grow and we’re expecting 354 ZEBs by end of 2027. Keep your eyes out for more ZEBs on your transit journey - the future of transit in Ottawa is green, clean, and quietly impressive.

Let us know

Was this information helpful? Is there a topic you’d like to learn more about? Let us know by emailing thenextstopblog@ottawa.ca. Stay current with ZEBs by visiting our Zero Emission Bus page