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Cost savings, environmental benefits

City buys two more electric vehicles

Jun 10, 2021 | 12:09 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The City of Medicine Hat says two new electric vehicles will lead to cost savings of as much as 80 per cent.

The city says it has purchased and commissioned two more electric fleet vehicles and finished installing a Type 2 Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station.

A grant program available through the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC) provided $30,000 towards the purchase of a 2021 Chevrolet Bolt and a 2020 Hyundai Kona, as well as the type 2 charging station, reads a City of Medicine Hat release.

The release states the grant and a $10,000 in federal Incentive for Zero-Emission Vehicles grant funding allowed the city to invest in electric technology that will reduce operational costs while remaining under the original capital budget.

“We realize significant cost savings with each electric vehicle added to the city’s fleet,” said Cory Earle, manager of Fleet Services. “In both fuel and maintenance costs, we have estimated that we’ll see savings of up to 80 per cent compared to a traditional fuel vehicle. In addition, switching to electric vehicles will eliminate operational emissions, leading to a reduction in environmental impact.”

The city’s fleet includes eight full-electric mobile assets, including scissor lifts, forklifts, small utility vehicles, and two electric ice resurfacers. The city says it plans to continue making targeted investments in electric and hybrid vehicles to reduce both operational costs and greenhouse gas emissions.