Saskatoon finalizes purchase of first electric buses

Saskatoon has begun the switch from diesel to electric for the city’s transit fleet.

The city announced Wednesday it has finalized the purchase of two Nova LFSe+ electric buses at a cost of $2.7 million. These will be the first two permanent battery-electric buses in Saskatoon Transit’s fleet, and the first in Saskatchewan.

The city said the buses will be able to travel 300 kilometres on a single charge, meaning each bus will save the city approximately $44,000 in fuel costs annually.

The city has been testing electric buses since 2020. It’s one of the initiatives in city’s “ambitious” climate action plan.

“Taking transit is already one of the best ways people can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, but through electrification and other actions outlined in the low emissions community plan, we’re working to further reduce our impact on the climate,” said Terry Schmidt, the city’s general manager of transportation and construction, in a release.

The new buses are expected to hit the road in 2024. The city’s goal is to convert the transit fleet to 100 per cent electric by 2030.