Electric bus pilot project in Saint John doubles ridership and saves money

Driving Innovation in Sustainable Transportation

Offering advanced technology mobility solutions with the vision of being ‘One Step Ahead in the Future of Mobility’, Karsan entered the North American market with eJEST, the leading model of the electric minibus market in Europe. Along with the delivery made to the Canadian city of Saint John in cooperation with Karsan’s distributor Damera, eJEST model starts offering service as the first electric low entrance, 6 meters (20-foot) minibus for public transportation in North America. Gary Crossman, Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Donna Reardon, Mayor of Saint John, Deniz Çetin, Karsan Exports Deputy General Manager, Raj Mahadeo, Damera Bus CEO, Saint John parliamentarian, a large number of press members, and senior executives of Karsan and Damera companies, which ensured the realization of the project, attended the delivery ceremony held for small bus eJEST to be put into service in Saint John city.

Commenting on the subject, Okan Baş, Karsan CEO, stated that they have determined North America as the target market after Europe and said, “we blazed the trail again by launching our first low entrance 20-foot electric minibus for public transportation in North America. We continue our global collaboration with Canada in North America in compliance with our strategy. In this context, following the distributorship agreement that we signed with Damera last year, we realized our first eJEST delivery and once again we blazed the trail as Karsan. Starting to carry passengers in Saint John city of Canada in September, Karsan eJEST has become Canada’s first low entrance, 20-foot electric minibus offering public transportation service. With eJEST that we have delivered to the Saint John city, as Karsan, we are glad to lead the electric transformation of Canada in public transportation."

Saint John City of Canada has made a commitment to transformation by taking significant steps in electric vehicles. In this important new green initiative where the first steps of transformation took place with Karsan, the commitment for replacing the carbon releasing vehicles in the fleet of the city with battery-electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by 2040strengthens further. Joining the fleet of the city, Karsan eJEST minibuses seem to be perfectly suited for on-demand transportation services in residential areas, both with their size and with their emission-free and noise-free operation. This is expected to be a source of inspiration for municipalities that aim to make the same transformation across the country in the future.

Today we are absolutely thrilled to see the remarkable success of the electric bus pilot project in Saint John, as reported by CBC New Brunswick! As an authorized distributor of Karsan Automotive in North America, Damera takes immense pride in being part of this transformative initiative that is reshaping the landscape of urban transit.

Financial Benefits

Comparing costs, a 20-foot electric bus comes in at around $350,000, while a 40-foot diesel-powered bus ranges between $600,000 and $700,000. The real savings come into play when we look at fuel expenses. The cost of a gallon of diesel far surpasses what we pay for an overnight charge. Given that traditional buses require multiple gallons of fuel, the economical advantage of the eJEST is undeniable. For an overnight charge cost of just 3 to 4 dollars, the Karsan eJEST provides 6-8 hours of service—a remarkable feat, especially considering that a full charge costs less than $4, in stark contrast to the $225 needed for diesel to cover the same distance!

The economic feasibility of the project, demonstrated through reduced initial costs and ongoing fuel savings, underscores the potential of electric buses in revolutionizing urban transportation. The fact that a 20-foot electric bus can cover about 220 kilometers on a single charge while significantly cutting down on fuel consumption and emissions is a powerful testament to the positive impact these buses can have on both the environment and finances.

On-Demand Service

Combining on-demand services with electric buses is a game-changing approach, and it's remarkable to learn that Saint John is the first Canadian municipality to merge these two concepts. This fusion not only reflects a progressive mindset but also underscores the practicality and efficiency of sustainable transportation solutions. The introduction of a user-friendly app-based scheduling system adds a layer of convenience that enhances the overall commuting experience for riders. This innovation, coupled with the commitment to a comprehensive review of the project's data at its conclusion, showcases a thoughtful and holistic approach to urban transit planning.

Driver's Contribution

The City of Saint John takes great pride in its drivers. Their unwavering dedication stands as yet another remarkable success story. Their enthusiasm in making this pilot a triumph is truly inspiring. They've taken it upon themselves to maximize the battery's life, treating it almost like a game and being dedicated to extracting the most out of the bus's performance. This endeavor has significantly enhanced their understanding of how to operate the bus efficiently – from accelerating to braking, and utilizing regenerative braking to recharge the battery.

Says Kevin Loughery, this journey has been an incredible learning experience for Saint John Transit, showcasing the remarkable commitment of our drivers to achieving excellence.

Feedback

Damera is pleased to share the positive feedback we've received for the eJEST, as stated by Kevin Loughery, senior manager of transit and fleet for the City of Saint John on CBC. Kevin Loughery says, that the eJEST is undoubtedly making a charming impression, as everyone is calling it CUTE.

Driver's Contribution

The City of Saint John takes great pride in its drivers. Their unwavering dedication stands as yet another remarkable success story. Their enthusiasm in making this pilot a triumph is truly inspiring. They've taken it upon themselves to maximize the battery's life, treating it almost like a game and being dedicated to extracting the most out of the bus's performance. This endeavor has significantly enhanced their understanding of how to operate the bus efficiently – from accelerating to braking, and utilizing regenerative braking to recharge the battery.

Says Kevin Loughery, this journey has been an incredible learning experience for Saint John Transit, showcasing the remarkable commitment of our drivers to achieving excellence.

Start Your Electrification Journey with Damera

At Damera, we firmly believe that projects like this are pivotal in shaping the future of transportation. We are excited to witness such positive changes in communities and are dedicated to playing our part in making sustainable and efficient transit solutions more accessible across North America. Way to go, Saint John! Thank you, Ian MacKinnon, BSc., MBA, Kevin Loughery, thank you team! You're setting an incredible example! Come aboard with Damera as we embark on a journey of groundbreaking innovations in the realm of urban mobility! 🚍🌟