Last Mile Delivery Electrification

Last Mile Electrification

Supporting Canteen Canada's Growing Fleet of Electric Delivery Vehicles

PowerON Energy Solutions is proud to partner with Canteen Canada to install additional EV chargers at their distribution warehouse, supporting the continued growth of their 100% electric delivery fleet.

Canteen Canada is Canada's leading provider of vending, micro-markets, and office coffee and snack services, fueling workplaces from factories and offices to schools and healthcare facilities nationwide.

As a subsidiary of Compass Group — the world's largest contract foodservice company, operating in over 25 countries with 590,000+ employees — Canteen Canada brings global scale to its national distribution network. This expanded charging infrastructure enables more zero-emissions deliveries and accelerates the decarbonization of last-mile logistics across the country.

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Why Choose PowerON

Continuity & Confidence

As an OPG company, with a century-long legacy, we're committed to standing beside our customers in the long run, supporting every step of the multi-year electrification transformation journey. Powering a Greener Decarbonized Fleet Future.

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City of Victoria Fire Truck Electrification

Electric Fire Truck Charging infrastructure

PowerON Energy Solutions, a leader in electrification infrastructure, was tasked with designing and deploying a bespoke charging system tailored to the fire hall’s unique requirements. This case study highlights the challenges, innovations, and outcomes of this project.

Emergency Vehicles Electrification

In 2025, the City of Victoria Fire Department welcomed the first of two electric fire trucks into service. This phased approach supports the City’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint by electrifying or powering 80 percent of its vehicles with renewable energy by 2040.*

Challenges Encountered & Solutions

Upgrading Charging Capacity

The fire hall’s existing 20 kW DC wall box charger was insufficient for rapidly charging the fire truck’s 100 kWh battery. Given the critical nature of emergency response, fire trucks must maintain constant operational readiness with minimal downtime, ensuring immediate availability for deployment. A faster, higher-powered 50 kW charger was therefore essential. During installation, the distribution panel was relocated within line-of-sight, and redundant safety disconnects were eliminated — optimizing the electrical layout and reducing both installation time and overall project cost.

Hydronic Floor Heating Constraints

Since the facility’s hydronic floor heating system prevented equipment from being bolted to the floor, a customized skid-mounted solution was developed for a secure, non-invasive installation. The skid design not only overcame this constraint but also enabled future scalability and streamlined maintenance.

Complex Power Shutdown in a Fire Hall

Installation in an active emergency services facility necessitated careful planning and coordination to manage a complex electrical shutdown without impacting essential emergency response operations.

Custom European Vehicle Requirements

The fire truck was a custom European vehicle, requiring additional documentation of its specific charging behavior and requirements to ensure compatibility and reliability. The large vehicle size required longer charging cords to ensure flexible and easy connections without compromising operational efficiency and reducing trip hazards.

Performance and Safety Testing

A half-day commissioning process validated the system’s reliability under real-world conditions, ensuring the truck can complete 95 percent of its calls entirely in electric mode*:

Edge Case Simulations: Testing included scenarios such as unintended parking brake disengagement during charging and abrupt charging termination from either the vehicle or charger.
Safety Protocols: Automated shutdown mechanisms and fail-safes were implemented to prevent electrical hazards.

PowerON also conducted hands-on training for the fire hall’s electrical staff and operators, ensuring proficiency in charger maintenance and emergency protocols.

*https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/news/victorias-first-electric-fire-truck-arrives

Fuel Savings and Environmental Impact Assessment

88% Savings
Energy Cost

134 KG CO₂
Emissions Reduced per 100KM

50L Diesel
Displacement per 100KM

To evaluate the impact of transitioning from a conventional diesel fire truck to an electric model, we compared fuel consumption, energy costs, and emissions for 100 km of travel.

Diesel Displacement: A conventional fire truck consumes approximately 0.5¹ liters of diesel per kilometer. Over 100 km, this equals 50 liter of diesel displaced when switching to an electric fire truck with an 85 kWh battery and 100 km range.
Cost Savings: At a wholesale diesel price of $1.50 per litre, the diesel truck’s energy cost is $75 per 100 km. In comparison, charging the electric fire truck costs only $9.18 per 100 km at BC Hydro’s flat rate of $0.108/kWh. This results in $65.82 in savings per 100 km, making electric operation roughly 88% cheaper. (Note: BC Hydro demand charges could add ~$9.80/day depending on charging patterns.)
CO₂ Emissions Reduction: Diesel combustion produces approximately 2.7 kg of CO₂ per liter². At 50 liters per 100 km, the diesel truck emits 135 kg of CO₂, while the electric truck produces 0 kg of tailpipe emissions. Even accounting for BC’s clean electricity grid (0.0115 kg CO₂e/kWh)³, the electric truck generates only ~1 kg of CO₂, resulting in a net reduction of ~134 kg of CO₂ for every 100 km driven.

^{1 - http://www.ohiofirechiefs.com/aws/OFCA/asset_manager/get_file/77188}

^{2 - https://natural-resources.canada.ca/sites/nrcan/files/oee/pdf/transportation/fuel-efficient-technologies/autosmart_factsheet_9_e.pdf}

^{3 - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/climate-change/data/electricity}

Engage PowerON Early: Maximize Savings & Future-Proof Your EV Charging

Engage PowerON early in your electrification planning to maximize savings and avoid costly retrofits. With technology evolving rapidly, selecting the wrong equipment today means expensive revisions tomorrow. Our expertise ensures you choose optimal, future-ready charging solutions from day one, with infrastructure designed for seamless, cost-effective expansion as your fleet grows.

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Breaking Through Grid Constraints Without Breaking Ground

A case study in overcoming site power limitations for fleet electrification

Overcoming Site Power Limitations

Grid capacity remains one of the most significant barriers to fleet electrification. When the Toronto Transit Commission needed to deploy 36 electric buses at their McNicoll Garage, they faced a familiar challenge: their existing 1,600 kW service couldn't support the 2,200 kW required for charging infrastructure.

Understanding the Grid Constraint Challenge

For many transit agencies, this scenario triggers a predictable chain of events:

Request utility service upgrade
Navigate complex approval processes
Secure capital funding (often seven figures)
Wait 12-18 months for implementation
Hope your electrification timeline survives the delay

The TTC faced exactly these hurdles: a $1.2 million upgrade cost and a 52-week lead time that would significantly delay their electrification goals.

An Alternative Approach: Energy Management as Infrastructure

Working with PowerON, the TTC implemented a different strategy. Rather than increasing the size of their grid connection, they optimized how they use their existing capacity through intelligent energy management.

The solution combined two key components:

1. Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) A 1.2 MWh battery system acts as an energy reservoir, charging during low-demand periods and discharging during peak charging times. This effectively "time-shifts" energy consumption to work within existing constraints.
2. Intelligent Charge Management Advanced software orchestrates charging schedules based on:

Vehicle departure times and route requirements
Real-time grid conditions
Energy pricing signals
Battery state of charge

This integrated approach increased the depot's effective capacity from 1,600 kW to 2,500 kW – a 56% improvement without touching the utility connection.

Quantifying the Impact

The immediate benefits were substantial:

Utility upgrade cost avoidance: $1.2 million
Time savings: 14 months shorter schedule
Full fleet deployment: 36 electric buses on schedule

However, the long-term operational benefits may be even more significant. The system generates approximately $310,000 in annual value through:

Significantly reduced electricity costs
Demand charge reduction
Revenue from offering energy services to the electricity grid

$285,000
Est. Annual Electricity Cost Savings

$25,000
Annual Energy Services Revenue

$310,000
Total Annual Impact

Download our case study below to learn more:

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Shunt Truck Yard Electrification

Trailer Shunt Yard Electrification

Trailer Shunt Yard Charging

PowerON has developed a two-phase project to maximize funding for TIP Canada's first step toward fleet electrification. The project includes low and high power charging for shunt trucks and employee parking.

The Path to Fleet Electrification

PowerON has successfully designed and constructed a two-phased electrification project at TIP Canada, delivering resilient, future-proofed charging infrastructure to meet the demands of fleet-scale electrification in a challenging leasing and rental environment.

The first phase introduced 16 Level 2 chargers, equipped with 4-way power sharing to maximize on-site charging ports and provide the flexibility to boost power if needed. In the second phase, a 100kW DC fast charger was installed to ensure rapid truck turnaround and also power TIP Canada’s shunt truck for trailer movement.

To further accelerate the project’s return on investment, PowerON prepared two funding applications, securing 50% of the phase-one costs.

Project Highlight

PowerON’s expertise helped TIP save on construction cost while ensuring a future-proof design. Our knowledge of electrification optimized the available onsite power to support charging without major utility upgrades.

PowerON Advantage

PowerON delivered a cost-efficient, scalable fleet charging solution through strategic design and innovative funding acquisition. By optimizing site layout and charger placement, the project slashed construction costs by over 15% while seamlessly supporting multi-vehicle charging demands—ensuring operational continuity without compromise.

Leveraging strategic grants, the team secured funding for 50% of Phase One costs, dramatically accelerating the project’s return on investment. The design’s forward-thinking approach prioritizes adaptability: a modular infrastructure now accommodates future charging demand spikes without overbuilding or costly utility upgrades, ensuring long-term scalability.

This initiative exemplifies how smart planning and sustainable innovation can reduce upfront costs, maximize ROI, and future-proof critical infrastructure—all while meeting today’s needs and tomorrow’s growth.

The optimized site layout and charger placement saved over 15% in construction costs while meeting multi-vehicle charging needs.
Secured funding that covered 50% of the project phase one cost, which accelerated the return on investment.
Forward-thinking design accommodates future charging demand increases, without overbuilding or triggering major utility upgrades.

Why Choose PowerON

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Shuttle Fleet Electrification Infrastructure

Billy Bishop Airport Fleet Electrification

PowerON is deploying high-uptime and future-proof charging infrastructure at Billy Bishop Airport, to accelerate the transition to a zero-emissions electric bus shuttle fleet and slashing Scope 1 emissions.

PowerON Billy Bishop Airport Electrification Infrastructure for Fleets

Fleet Charging Infrastructure

PowerON is planning and building charging infrastructure at Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport to support the operation of an incoming fleet of six electric buses, enabling a quieter and more sustainable shuttle service for the city’s downtown and waterfront communities.

The Path to Fleet Electrification

In the pursuit of achieving sustainability and mitigating the environmental footprint, Nieuport Aviation has joined forces with the TOK Group of Companies to revolutionize the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport’s shuttle operations. They aim to undertake a landmark transition from diesel-powered vehicles to electric by integrating six state-of-the-art electric buses into their fleet this year. This integration is set to render the transportation between Union Station and the airport terminal emissions-free. Moreover, it is poised to offer passengers a quieter and more comfortable travel experience.

Nieuport Aviation is the operator of the passenger terminal at the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which boasts numerous accolades and awards. In its multi-faceted operations, Nieuport Aviation extends a complimentary bus shuttle service to passengers, facilitating a seamless connection between the airport and downtown Toronto. This service is managed and operated by the TOK Group of Companies.

The TOK Group of Companies is an organization with a rich history spanning nearly five decades. It has built a legacy on the provision of unparalleled, high-quality services to a myriad of public and private organizations. With an expansive portfolio in the transit, urban mobility, and charter tour industries, TOK has established itself as an industry leader in passenger mobility.

This strategic alliance between Nieuport Aviation and TOK is expected to set a benchmark in airport ground transportation by marrying advanced electric technology with exceptional service. The fleet electrification demonstrates a committed stride toward a cleaner and greener future, reflecting the growing cognizance of and commitment to environmental stewardship within the aviation and transportation sectors.

Initiating the Electrification Process

In 2022, TOK undertook a rigorous market analysis to identify potential suppliers who could provide the chargers, orchestrate the installation, engineer the requisite infrastructure, and commission and maintain the equipment over a span of 10 years. Furthermore, TOK engaged in close collaboration with the bus Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to pinpoint the optimal charging systems. This evaluation was grounded on an array of factors encompassing battery sizes, route profiles, downtime, frequency of starts and stops, average route speeds, and the integration of regenerative braking systems, particularly in the context of the bustling traffic in Downtown Toronto.

PowerON Spearheading the Electrification Rollout

With a robust preliminary assessment and blueprint at hand, it was imperative to select a partner with the expertise and vision to lead the electric transformation. PowerON Energy Solutions emerged as the frontrunner amongst four viable candidates. The company was entrusted with the responsibility to strategize and construct the charging infrastructure essential for supporting the operations of the imminent fleet of six electric buses. This strategic selection enabled the realization of a quieter and more sustainable shuttle service, catering to the transportation needs of Toronto’s downtown and waterfront communities, while exemplifying commitment to environmental stewardship.

Enabling Cleaner, Greener and Quieter Transportation Solutions

PowerON Billy Bishop Airport DC Fast Charger

Partnership with PowerON

PowerON was commissioned not only to execute the strategic planning and installation of DC fast-charging equipment at both the airport and maintenance facilities in Mississauga but also to undertake an exhaustive analysis and validation of the preliminary assessment conducted by TOK. This additional step was crucial in ascertaining the feasibility and viability of the proposed electrification project.

The analysis recommended a flexible and economical charging solution to meet the fleet's operational needs. Alongside the technical aspects, PowerON effectively managed a multifaceted web of stakeholder relationships, encompassing tenants, landlords, and two additional permitting entities. This skillful handling of relationships was key to the project’s smooth advancement, on time and on budget completion.

Furthermore, PowerON took the initiative to the next level by leading a successful funding application on behalf of the client. This culminated in securing a substantial grant valued at approximately $100,000.

In essence, PowerON played an indispensable role in both validating the groundwork laid by the preliminary assessment and spearheading the practical implementation, ensuring that the project was grounded in technical feasibility, operational pragmatism, and financial sustainability. Through this collaboration, PowerON affirmed its commitment and expertise in facilitating a transformative shift towards greener transportation solutions.

Project Highlights

Leveraging our deep expertise in electrification, PowerON successfully implemented high-uptime and future-proof charging infrastructure at Billy Bishop Airport.

In our commitment to flexible, efficient, and adaptable operations, we iterated on charger locations and technologies, designing a charging solution that utilizes the natural idle vehicle time. This minimized the impact of electric vehicles on operations, ensuring the charging infrastructure could accommodate evolving demands. Moreover, our strategic placement of the charger infrastructure led to a significant $50k in construction savings. This innovative design also allowed us to deliver the project punctually and under budget. All this was achieved with minimal disruption, even within the confines of a space-limited airport environment.

Architect & Plan
Adaptable and Flexible Fleet Charging Infrastructure

Build & Create
Design optimization with over $50K in cost savings

Manage & Optimize
Optmized charging to reduce the impact on operations

Why Choose PowerON

Continuity & Confidence

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TTC eBus Charging Infrastructure

PowerON is leading the largest transit fleet electrification program in North America. Architecting, building and managing the charging infrastructure for more than 2200 full size transit buses to be completed by 2040.

PowerON TTC Ebus Fleet Pantograph Charging

Zero Emissions Transit

PowerON is set to drive TTC's vision for a zero-emission fleet before 2040 by owning and operating North America's largest charging infrastructure project. This ambitious fleet electrification initiative encompasses design, procurement, construction, and maintenance, leading to a transformative shift in public transportation.

Powering the Toronto Transit Commission

Pathway to Decarbonized Public Transit

Since 2021, PowerON has led the development of electrification infrastructure for over 2,200 transit buses across 8 TTC garages. We have also secured an industry-first, 20-year performance-based contract, pioneered a proof of concept for centralized rectification charging, and implemented a strategic 20-year phased construction schedule, complemented by a vendor of record program. Under our agreement with the TTC, PowerON will design, build, co-invest, and operate the charging and related electrical infrastructure to support electrification of the TTC fleet and facilities.

Project Highlights

Our guidance is facilitating the TTC's smooth transition to an electric bus fleet. Through feasibility studies on eight garages and a phased approach, we prioritized change management, eased stakeholders into the new technology, and minimized operational disruption during construction.

Our plan expedited the introduction of eBuses to the TTC fleet without the need for major, costly utility upgrades. Centralized charging reduced the footprint by 50%, through the optimization of garage infrastructure, enabling the maximization of bus charging capacities in space-limited facilities. Furthermore, effective energy management considerably lowered the electrification infrastructure costs per eBus, resulting in substantial capital savings.

Architect & Plan
Accelerate the transition without costly utility upgrades

Build & Create
Centralized charging for space maximization

Manage & Optimize
Energy management to reduce infrastructure cost

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Continuity & Confidence

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Powering the TTC

Toronto Transit Commission Bus Electrification Program

PowerON is designing, building, operating, maintaining, co-investing and owning all electrification infrastructure to support electrification of the TTC bus fleet and facilities.

In 2019 the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), Canada’s largest municipal transit agency, came to PowerON with the ambitious goal of fully electrifying its bus fleet by 2035. The transition of its fleet of over 2200 buses to 100 per cent zero-emissions technology is would become North America’s largest, most ambitious transit electrification project.

Achieving this however, would require overcoming multiple challenges; including getting sufficient electricity to its sites, ensuring the reliability needed for revenue service, and the space constraints of the TTC’s facilities.

To address these challenges, PowerON began with overseeing detailed feasibility studies for each of the TTC’s eight garages based on a deep understanding of the TTC’s unique operational needs. The output of these studies enabled PowerON to develop a phased electrification plan that would minimize risk and support change management across the TTC’s operations and with external stakeholders.

We are now executing on that plan, in which PowerON’s scope includes installation of chargers, battery storage, backup generation, and operation of the energy management system that ties them all together.

Phase I of PowerON and the TTC’s 15 year construction schedule is underway at several of the TTC’s facilities with chargers already operating at TTC Birchmount and more coming online through 2023.

2200
buses electrified by 2037

10
megawatts plus of power demand per site

8
TTC facilities electrified

Ongoing Projects

Centralized Rectification Proof of Concept

PowerON TTC Pantograph Charger

PowerON has installed and is operating Canada’s first centralized rectification electric bus fast charger at the TTC’s Birchmount facility. The 1.5MW charger feeds 10 automatic pantograph chargers with as fast charge speeds of up to 150kW per dispenser, and can be expanded to support the charging needs of twenty buses at 75kW simultaneously.

The installation is also unique for the fact that the charger and all dispensers are located outside in the Birchmount yard, rather than inside the facility. This enables PowerON and the TTC to prove the performance of both the chargers and buses in real-world weather conditions.

Centralized rectification charging is key to the TTC’s electrification strategy because it requires only half the footprint of traditional cabinet-style chargers in facilities where space is at a premium.

PowerON has consistently demonstrated an ability to understand our operational needs as a transit operator and apply their electricity infrastructure and market knowledge to advance novel approaches to meeting those needs as we move towards electric transit.

Bem Case

Executive Director, Innovation and Sustainability, TTC

IESO-funded Battery Storage Grid Innovation

PowerON Builds and Creates Electrification Infrastructure

PowerON will deploy battery energy storage systems and an artificial intelligence-driven charging management system that maximizes return on investment by:

managing peak demand on Ontario’s power system, and
shifting electricity consumption to lower-cost periods.

This innovative project will, for the first time in Canada, leverage battery storage that is intended primarily for transit operations reliability, to also provide back-up power to the broader electricity system. It will save money for both the TTC and for electricity ratepayers as the battery storage can be used to provide benefits to both systems, avoiding infrastructure duplication.

Last Mile Electrification

Supporting Canteen Canada's Growing Fleet of Electric Delivery Vehicles

Project Photos

Why Choose PowerON

Continuity & Confidence

LATEST

News

City of Victoria Fire Truck Electrif...

Breaking Through Grid Constraints Wi...

Shunt Truck Yard Electrification

LET’S CONNECT

Let’s get your electric fleet ready to go.

Electric Fire Truck Charging infrastructure

Emergency Vehicles Electrification

Challenges Encountered & Solutions

Hydronic Floor Heating Constraints

Complex Power Shutdown in a Fire Hall

Fuel Savings and Environmental Impact Assessment

88% Savings Energy Cost

134 KG CO₂ Emissions Reduced per 100KM

50L Diesel Displacement per 100KM

Engage PowerON Early: Maximize Savings & Future-Proof Your EV Charging

Why Choose PowerON

Continuity & Confidence

LATEST

News

Last Mile Delivery Electrification

Breaking Through Grid Constraints Wi...

Shunt Truck Yard Electrification

LET’S CONNECT

Let’s get your electric fleet ready to go.

Breaking Through Grid Constraints Without Breaking Ground

Overcoming Site Power Limitations

Understanding the Grid Constraint Challenge

An Alternative Approach: Energy Management as Infrastructure

Quantifying the Impact

$285,000 Est. Annual Electricity Cost Savings

$25,000 Annual Energy Services Revenue

$310,000 Total Annual Impact

Why Choose PowerON

Continuity & Confidence

LATEST

News

Last Mile Delivery Electrification

City of Victoria Fire Truck Electrif...

Shunt Truck Yard Electrification

LET’S CONNECT

Let’s get your electric fleet ready to go.

Trailer Shunt Yard Electrification

Trailer Shunt Yard Charging

The Path to Fleet Electrification

Project Highlight

PowerON Advantage

Why Choose PowerON

Continuity & Confidence

LATEST

News

Last Mile Delivery Electrification

City of Victoria Fire Truck Electrif...

Breaking Through Grid Constraints Wi...

LET’S CONNECT

Let’s get your electric fleet ready to go.

Billy Bishop Airport Fleet Electrification

Fleet Charging Infrastructure

The Path to Fleet Electrification

Initiating the Electrification Process

PowerON Spearheading the Electrification Rollout

Enabling Cleaner, Greener and Quieter Transportation Solutions

Partnership with PowerON

Project Highlights

Architect & Plan Adaptable and Flexible Fleet Charging Infrastructure

Build & Create Design optimization with over $50K in cost savings

Manage & Optimize Optmized charging to reduce the impact on operations

Why Choose PowerON

Continuity & Confidence

LATEST

News

Last Mile Delivery Electrification

City of Victoria Fire Truck Electrif...

Breaking Through Grid Constraints Wi...

88% Savings
Energy Cost

134 KG CO₂
Emissions Reduced per 100KM

50L Diesel
Displacement per 100KM

$285,000
Est. Annual Electricity Cost Savings

$25,000
Annual Energy Services Revenue

$310,000
Total Annual Impact

Architect & Plan
Adaptable and Flexible Fleet Charging Infrastructure

Build & Create
Design optimization with over $50K in cost savings

Manage & Optimize
Optmized charging to reduce the impact on operations

Architect & Plan
Accelerate the transition without costly utility upgrades

Build & Create
Centralized charging for space maximization

Manage & Optimize
Energy management to reduce infrastructure cost

2200
buses electrified by 2037

10
megawatts plus of power demand per site

8
TTC facilities electrified