The City is looking at adding 10 electric buses to its public transit fleet by 2018. Edmonton and St. Albert tried them out last winter to make sure they could handle a harsh winter, with positive results.
While the units can cost more than a diesel vehicle, Transit Manager Jason Henry says in the end they’re cheaper to operate and maintain and will reduce the transit system’s carbon footprint. The buses can run for an entire shift on one charge using solar power.
He brought the idea to the City’s Community Growth Committee and they asked him to come back with a draft request for proposal. That will help them get a better idea of how much the buses and a solar recharging station would run.