In Canada, Vancounver’s TransLink is introducing renewable diesel into its bus fleet as a cleaner fuel option, in order to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As a low-carbon fuel, renewable diesel offers up to an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to fossil fuel diesel.

The Surrey Transit Centre was the first bus depot to transition. With this change, TransLink will be reducing total greenhouse gas emissions by 6,550 tonnes or 5% of TransLink’s total emissions—the equivalent of removing 1,900 passenger vehicles off the road.

Renewable diesel will deliver rapid GHG reductions while we work to electrify our fleet.

—TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn

Implementing renewable diesel will help TransLink achieve specific goals outlined in the Climate Action Strategy, including reducing GHGs 45% by 2030 (from 2010 levels). TransLink remains committed to moving to a zero-emission fleet by 2040.

Additional transit centers are planned to be converted to renewable diesel this year. The use of renewable diesel as a fuel source for the West Coast Express and SeaBus is also being studied.

With an expanding SkyTrain network, and a fleet of 280 trolley-electric and battery-electric buses, TransLink provides a network of zero-emissions transportation options for customers. The first all-electric transit center—located at Marpole in Vancouver—is under construction and will be completed by 2027. TransLink will deploy a total of 460 battery-electric buses by 2030.