City piloting four electric vehicles

The City has launched its electric vehicle pilot project with the leasing of four battery electric Chevy Bolts for Saskatoon Light & Power, Facilities Management and Parking Enforcement.

During the pilot project, the vehicles and their charging stations will be studied to identify efficiencies, ability to meet service standards, and lifecycle costs. While electric vehicles typically have higher costs upfront, savings can be expected throughout their lifecycle as there are less maintenance costs associated with electric vehicles since they do not require fuel, oil changes, spark plugs, or transmission servicing.

“Electric vehicles are new, but with changes to our climate and legislation, they are expected to become the new normal” explains Goran Saric, Director of Roadways, Fleet & Support. “By piloting these vehicles now, we can properly prepare for the infrastructure they require, as well as benefit from their lower greenhouse gas emissions, lower maintenance costs and cleaner energy source.”

By taking four fuel powered vehicles off the road and replacing them with low-emission vehicles, the City is reducing its corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 4 to 6 metric tonnes of CO2e every year which is equivalent to 4,400 lbs of coal burned, or the need for 66 tree seedlings grown for 10 years. 

This program supports the City’s Low Emissions Community Plan, more specifically, actions #17, #18, #20 and #21 and compliments Saskatoon Transit’s electric bus pilot project which launched in the summer of 2020.  

Please watch our video or visit Saskatoon.ca/ElectricVehicles for more information.