On Tuesday, CJWW News looked into where Saskatoon Transit stands when it comes to electric buses. Now, we take a look at school buses and whether or not those types of buses will eventually make the switch from diesel to electric.

Jim McDonald, Director of Saskatoon Transit says one day you’ll see more and more school districts make the switch to electric, but right now he says it’s too expensive.

“A regular diesel bus costs about $550 thousand U.S. at this point for a 40 footer. When you’re looking at the current prices that we’ve seen on the market is approximately $1.2 millions for a 40 foot electric battery bus.”

McDonald says Thomas Bus has signed a deal with another bus company to use their electric battery technology in buses for one school district in the U.S.

The director of transit also points out that there’s a company in Quebec that is currently making 100 per cent zero emission buses that are essentially battery powered.

McDonald also says in addition to waiting for prices to lower, the technology has to prove itself before more and more school districts convert from diesel buses to electric buses.

Saskatoon Transit will get an electric bus for a one-year period starting in the spring. The pilot project will see how electric buses operate in the city’s climate and terrain.

You can listen to our full conversation with Jim McDonald at cjwwradio.com by clicking under the podcasts section.