BC Transit bringing 22 electric buses to Kelowna
Published 4:00 pm Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Kelowna’s first electric bus stops at the Queensway Bus Exchange on Tuesday, June 23 (Brayden Ursel/Black Press)
Mayor Tom Dyas cuts the ribbon alongside city councillors and staff from BC Transit in Kelowna on June 23 (Brayden Ursel/Black Press)
BC Transit is calling Kelowna’s Queensway Bus Exchange ‘Electric Avenue’ following its announcement on Tuesday that it will bring 22 all-electric buses to the city over the next several months.
The City of Kelowna, BC Transit, and members of the community met at the downtown busloop on June 23 for the ribbon-cutting and to get an up-close and personal look at one of the new buses.
“By fall 2026, BC Transit will have all 22 electric buses operating in the region. The first few buses will be on routes serving our customers in July,” said Aaron Lamb, vice president of asset management and chief sustainability officer at BC Transit.
“This means quieter streets, cleaner air, and a more comfortable ride for thousands of customers every single day… Our top priority at BC Transit is to provide safe, reliable service.”
The 22 electric buses coming to Kelowna are part of a larger provincial rollout that’s seeing 125 heavy-duty electric buses across B.C. communities, including Kamloops, Nanaimo, Nelson and more.
According to BC Transit, each new bus costs $1.7 million, bringing Kelowna’s total to more than $37 million.
Upgrades at the bus depot on Hardy Street are underway and will provide a space for these new buses to charge up overnight. Each bus will take five to six hours to completely recharge.
Mayor Tom Dyas is excited to see these buses come to Kelowna this summer.
“This is an important milestone as we work with BC Transit to transition toward a zero-emission fleet. Electric buses support cleaner air and are quieter than their diesel counterparts, while helping us reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Dyas.
“Investments like the upgrades at the Hardy Street Facility ensure our transit system is ready for the future and able to expand service in a sustainable way.”
One of BC Transit’s electric buses will save approximately 550 car trips worth of gas each year, making Kelowna a greener city in the future.
According to Dyas, Kelowna’s transit system continues to grow, delivering roughly 6.5 million rides in 2024 and 6.6 million in 2025.
While these 22 buses slowly make their way into Kelowna’s fleet, they will replace 21 gas-powered city buses.
