OC Transpo has formalised an additional order for 120 all-electric Nova LFSe+ buses from Nova Bus, bringing the total number ordered from the manufacturer to 175. The vehicles are intended to support the City of Ottawa’s transition towards zero-emission mobility, with progressive delivery planned by the third quarter of 2027.
An additional order expands the existing commitment
The announcement concerns an additional order rather than a newly described procurement competition. Nova Bus said the agreement takes OC Transpo’s total orders from the manufacturer to 175 electric buses. The source does not state the contract value, tender route, evaluation criteria or whether other suppliers were considered. That distinction matters for businesses and public buyers: an additional order may sit within an established purchasing relationship or agreement, but the release alone does not explain the legal or commercial mechanism used. It identifies the parties, the quantity and the intended delivery timetable, while leaving the underlying procurement documentation outside the announcement.
Canadian manufacture and planned delivery
Nova Bus said the vehicles will be manufactured and assembled entirely in Canada. Progressive delivery of the new buses is planned by the third quarter of 2027, after which the total number of Nova Bus vehicles delivered to Ottawa will exceed 400. The company has been present in Ottawa since 2017 and describes its work with OC Transpo as a partnership supporting network modernisation and the move to electric mobility. The announcement presents the order as part of Ottawa’s wider environmental goals, but it does not provide a vehicle-by-vehicle deployment schedule or details of the routes on which the buses will operate.
The purchase includes operational support
The Nova LFSe+ is described as combining the robustness of the LFS platform with electric propulsion for winter and urban conditions. Alongside the buses, Nova Bus says it supports OC Transpo through workforce training, charging infrastructure optimisation and technical assistance throughout the vehicles’ lifecycle. This illustrates a transferable feature of fleet procurement: the purchase is linked to the capability to operate and maintain the assets, not only to their manufacture. The company also said the additional vehicles will expand the existing LFSe+ fleet in Canada, taking the number of electric buses in operation in the country to more than 500.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Purchaser | OC Transpo |
| Additional order | 120 all-electric Nova LFSe+ buses |
| Total ordered from Nova Bus | 175 electric buses |
| Planned delivery | By the third quarter of 2027 |
| Manufacture and assembly | Entirely in Canada |
| Nova Bus vehicles delivered to Ottawa | More than 400 after delivery |
| Electric buses in operation in Canada | More than 500 after the addition |
The confirmation of these 120 Nova LFSe+ buses … reaffirms the reliability of our electric solutions and the quality of the support our teams provide on the ground. — Paul Le Houillier, President of Nova Bus
WHY IT MATTERS
The order shows how public transport electrification can involve a continuing supplier relationship and a package of operational support, including training, charging infrastructure optimisation and lifecycle technical assistance. The announcement confirms the quantity and intended delivery period, but does not set out the procurement route or contract value.
Reported from financialpost.com, 2026-09-23. The Tender Wire is published by Otnox.
