‘Quieter, cleaner’ electric buses hit the streets in Saskatoon

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The wheels on the bus are going green as Saskatoon adds two electric buses to its transit fleet.

On Thursday, the city unveiled its new Nova LFSe+ battery-electric buses, which Saskatoon Transit director Mike Moellenbeck called an “exciting” and “significant milestone” toward sustainable public transit.

Three years ago, the city tested a battery-electric bus on local routes for a 12-month period, to see how it held up. Could an electric bus handle the same stops and schedules as a diesel bus? Perhaps most importantly, could it handle the full spectrum of Saskatoon’s weather, from blistering summer heat to frigid winter storms?

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Moellenbeck said it passed each test with flying colours.

“It’s quieter, it’s cleaner, it doesn’t have the same emissions you’d have on a diesel bus,” he said. “And … yes, they are able to withstand the winters.”

Based on that success, in 2021 city council approved an investment in battery-electric buses, part of the city’s broader $115.4 million fleet renewal strategy.

“Battery-electric buses are a significant step toward building a transit system that meets the current and future ridership goals and our long-term sustainability goals,” Moellenbeck said.

Electric buses do cost more up front than diesel buses — about $500,000 more per bus, the city estimated in 2021 — but over its whole lifetime on the roads, an electric bus costs much less in energy and maintenance.

According to the city’s analysis, if a diesel bus covers 50,000 kilometres per year and stays on the road for 18 years, Saskatoon would pay nearly $2 million for its purchase, fuel, maintenance and upkeep. An electric bus doing that same work is expected to cost about $1.5 million overall.

The city says each battery-electric bus it adds to the fleet instead of a diesel bus will also reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by around 60 tonnes every year, improving air quality at transit terminals and along bus routes.

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“There will always be limited funds and a high degree of urgency for fleet replacement,” Saskatoon transportation and construction general manager Terry Schmidt said in a 2022 city council meeting. “But considering all factors, the administration believes that moving to (battery-electric buses) now makes sense because the investment will lower the long-term cost (for) the city.”

The two new vehicles are joining Saskatoon’s 124-strong fleet of public buses, and are expected to start picking up passengers around the city by the end of the month.

The buses will be charged every night and during off-peak hours. In good conditions, they can cover more than 300 kilometres without recharging. Even in colder, more difficult weather, Moellenbeck said they should be able to handle their routes with ease.

He invited transit users to keep an eye out for the “fancy logos on the side” of the new buses — blue and green panels with bright lightning-crackle decals, denoting their power source.

“I encourage everyone to watch for the battery-electric buses on nearby routes, and to experience the benefits firsthand as we drive towards a greener and more efficient public transportation network,” he said.

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