Once themajor planning stages carried outNow is the time to make the crucial choice of suppliers. Before purchasing your very first electric bus, there are a number of things to consider: as a purchaser and transporter, you're in a position to demand technical answers from the suppliers you want to work with. From battery life to procurement lead times, this article outlines the key questions to ask suppliers of electric buses, services and equipment, so you can make an informed decision.
Choosing the right bus supplier
One of your key suppliers will undoubtedly be the electric bus manufacturer. The manufacturer will have to meet a number of very specific criteria to ensure that your school bus fleet electrification project runs smoothly. Remember to check with the various suppliers you approach for battery warranties and conditions. For example, lithium batteries can be guaranteed for up to 12 years, but this comes at an additional cost. And don't forget to ask the manufacturer about the life cycle of the batteries, and the measures in place to recycle them once they've reached the end of their useful life.
And don't hesitate to ask suppliers about maintenance: what is the availability of spare parts? Where are the nearest repair centers and dealers? Ask for details of the general warranty period and delivery times, so that they fit in with your electrification plan.
Finally, some suppliers offer training courses when the bus is delivered, to ensure safe maintenance of the equipment.
Opt for electrical service and equipment suppliers that meet your needs
At this stage, it's important to refer back to your initial plan in order to properly identify your needs according to your reality. To make sure everything fits together, ask first about the delivery times for the charging equipment and its installation. The arrival of the bus(es) and the infrastructure must be coordinated.
If you're buying a charging management software package, it's important to check that it works with all types of charging station manufacturers. At this stage, as with your electric bus supplier, it's important to know all the details of the services offered. For example, will the supplier handle grant applications and planning? Ask charging solution providers about their quick-fix solutions and their plans for electrical redundancy.
Finally, check the recurring management costs for the software if the number of electric buses in the fleet increases, as well as its compatibility with your operating system. If necessary, the purchase of additional equipment should be included in your electrification plan.
For more information, seeWeb page and theguide Carrier+.
This project was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Quebec government, the Fondation Familiale Trottier, the Fonds Climat du Grand Montréal and the Fonds de solidarité FTQ. Propulsion Québec would also like to thank L'Accélérateur de transition and the team at WSP Canada for their essential contributions, as well as all the experts we met during the preparation of this guide.
