Saturday, June 22, 2024 The federal government has announced a partnership with Langs Bus Lines to replace nearly half of their diesel school buses with 200 electric ones. The announcement was made by Parliamentary Secretary Peter Fragiskatos, MP Arielle Kayabaga, Brian Reilly, Senior Director of the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), and Kevin Langs, Vice-President of Langs Bus Lines. Through the Zero Emission Transit Fund (ZETF), Infrastructure Canada is allocating over $22.
2 million in federal funding to Langs. Additionally, CIB has completed a financial agreement on a $22.4 million investment with the company.
The combined efforts of ZETF funding and the CIB loan will support the acquisition of new buses by 2026. A portion of the ZETF investment will also be used for installing necessary charging stations and upgrading facilities at five locations across southwestern Ontario. The new electric buses will serve students in densely populated areas of Sarnia, Strathroy, London, and Woodstock.
Furthermore, more than $600,000 of the ZETF funding is earmarked for a feasibility study to aid Langs in enhancing their understanding and readiness for the electric transition. CIB’s loan will assist in managing the higher initial capital costs of the electric buses, facilitating a faster transition to a cleaner fleet. Langs Bus Lines, a family-operated business for over 50 years, provides transportation using buses, vans, and mobility accessible vehicles in London, Sarnia, Chatham-Ken.
