A fully electric fleet is the ultimate goal of a new pilot project that will see 4 electric vehicles hit the streets of Saskatoon.

Director of Roadways, Fleet and Support Goran Saric says four battery electric Chevy Bolts will be utilized by Saskatoon Light and Power, Facilities Management and Parking Enforcement. Saric says during the pilot project the vehicles and their charging stations will be studied to identify efficiencies, their ability to meet services standards and their lifecycle costs to maintain. City Council approved $200,000 for the cars, that are being leased, and the vehicle charging stations which are now operational. Saric says while electric vehicles have higher upfront costs, savings can be expected through maintenance and fuel cost reductions. Saric says the city’s corporate fleet includes around 470 vehicles.

The city’s Director of Sustainability Jeanna (Gee-nah) South says this pilot will make strides towards having a fully electric fleet in the next decade, with the goal to reduce total emissions in the city 80% by 2050. She estimates the switch of 4 gas powered vehicles to electric will reduce nearly 5 tons of greenhouses gases per year.

South states while much of Saskatchewan comes from non-renewable sources and has a high carbon intensity, electric vehicles still emit 30% less greenhouse gas than non-electric vehicles. She says this should continue to improve as the power grid transitions to cleaner energy generation.