2 electric school buses to join New Brunswick fleet in pilot project

The Gallant government plans to purchase two electric school buses and five other small electric vehicles to add to its fleet this year as part of a pilot project, Transportation and Infrastructure Bill Fraser announced on Tuesday.

He could not say how much the vehicles will cost to buy or operate, how long they will run between charges, whether there are enough charging stations across the province, or how long they will take to charge.

"We don't have all that information," Fraser told reporters. "We suspect it will be more cost effective," he said, citing some statistics from Ontario, where electric vehicles have an average annual operating cost of $700, which includes supplemental fuel purchases.

There could be significant savings to be had, but I mean obviously we have a process to go through to do evaluation.- Bill Fraser, transportation minister

With a regular gas vehicle, such expenses could be incurred within a month or two, said Fraser.

"So, you know, there could be significant savings to be had, but I mean obviously we have a process to go through to do evaluation."

"And that's an ongoing process," being done in partnership with Energy Resource Development and NB Power, as well as the private sector, he said, noting a Fredericton hotel located across the street from the legislature, for example, has its own charging station.

There area numerous "factors that are kind of unknowns right now and that's why it's important to do this pilot project now and to start slow as we ramp up," the number of electric vehicles in the province, said Fraser.

Lack of data criticized

Tory transportation critic Jeff Carr said he believes electric vehicles "are part of the future," but he stopped short of endorsing the pilot project.

"I wanted to be able to know if it's a good idea and cost effective, but the minister has no numbers to back up what his pilot project is," said Carr, who is the MLA for New Maryland-Sunbury.

"So the minister is taking on this pilot project, which is a pilot, but he has no information, or no projections, or any idea of what it should cost."

It's unclear where the two new electric school buses will be located. Fraser said that's still under review, but he anticipates they will be in an urban area, where there is more charging infrastructure.

Asked whether it would be up to the government or the private sector to create more charging stations, Fraser said he believes it should be both.

"Everybody has a responsibility and we're going to be working together."

As to whether the government should keep some fuel vehicles, in the event of widespread, long-lasting power outages, such as the one experienced during last month's ice storm, Fraser said some electric vehicles have the capacity to also operate on fuel.

"So you could switch over."