City of Saskatoon launches pilot project with four electric vehicles

The City of Saskatoon is putting four electric vehicles on the road, supporting its Low Emissions Community Plan (LEC).

The four vehicles also complement Saskatoon Transit’s electric bus pilot, which launched last summer. The cost of the electric vehicle pilot project stands at around $200,000.

“They do not require fuel, they do not require oil changes, spark plugs, transmission servicing … so savings from less maintenance and not needing fuel are expected to help balance the current disparity in outcome costs between conventional (vehicles) and electric vehicles,” Goran Saric, the city’s director of roadways, fleet and support, said during a media conference Thursday.

The four Chevy Bolt vehicles will be leased by the city for Saskatoon Light & Power, Facilities Management and Parking Enforcement.

During the pilot project, the vehicles and charging stations will be studied to identify efficiencies, if they’re able to meet service standards and lifecycle costs.

“While it’s true that much of Saskatchewan’s electricity comes from non-renewable sources and it has a high carbon intensity, electric vehicles still emit 30 per cent less greenhouse gas than their (counterparts),” said Jeanna South, the director of sustainability.

South added the four vehicles are estimated to reduce emissions by approximately five tonnes of greenhouse gases per year.

The LEC sets out to have an all-electric fleet of vehicles by 2030, and South spoke about if that timeline is currently realistic.

“(It) sets out a roadmap for council’s consideration,” she said. “I think an important part of more work associated with the fleet is to look at developing a strategy for fleet rollout. That’s an important piece that could potentially follow this … I think the next significant work would include the creation of the fleet strategy.

“A lot that could happen depending on what future budgets look like.”

-Note: This article has been changed to reflect that the vehicles are the Chevy Bolt, not Volt as originally reported.