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Two new electric vehicles are providing the first step in Enmax’s plan to convert to an entirely electrified fleet by 2030.
The utility unveiled the first two electric medium-duty fleet vehicles Monday, becoming the first such company in Canada to pilot the trucks. The vehicles resemble those currently in use, and have the range to cover more than a typical workday.
Enmax estimated the switch could save an estimated 4,300 litres of diesel fuel per vehicle each year. The company said it’s a move which also carries savings over the long-term.
“This pilot will help us better understand the performance of electric vehicles and how they operate in the field,” Enmax Power president Jana Mosley said in a Monday news release.
“When compared to a standard gas or diesel vehicle, the total cost of electric vehicle ownership over the lifecycle is about 50 per cent less for maintenance and operational expenses… EVs reduce Enmax’s carbon footprint and also reduce our operating costs.”
The pilot program includes just more than $1 million in funding from Emissions Reduction Alberta, a not-for-profit which looks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through technology investments.
The group said the pilot is an opportunity for field testing for the technology in real-world settings.
“The knowledge gained will allow for broader and more informed decision-making on future investments in the electrification of fleet vehicles,” said Emissions Reduction Alberta CEO Steve MacDonald in a news release.
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Mosley said adapting electric vehicles is looking toward the future.
“Our customers need us to be future-focused, ensuring that we can support them in their energy choices,” she said. “When it comes to electrification, we have an incredible opportunity to do just that, by electrifying first.”
Electric vehicles were one focus of the federal government’s 2022 budget, tabled last week.
That budget included a $547-million commitment over four years to subsidize businesses looking to upgrade their fleets to zero-emission vehicles. As well, it put $1.7 billion over five years to electric vehicle rebates for consumers.
Ottawa is targeting greater sales of electric vehicles, aiming for zero-emission cars to make up 20 per cent of sales by 2026, and 60 per cent of sales by 2030.
According to a 2021 Scotiabank study, the cost of a new electric vehicle in Canada ranges from $32,000 to $160,000.
—With files from The Canadian Press
Twitter: @jasonfherring
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