The Town of Banff is investing in electric vehicles for the municipal fleet to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The Town’s goal is to reduce GHG emissions to 30% below 2005 levels by 2030, and 80% by 2050.
When fossil-fuel powered cars and trucks reach the end of their lifecycle, we look to replace them with an electric vehicle as part of the Responsible Energy Vehicle program.
In 2019, 10 new vehicles and equipment were purchased as part of the program taking old GHG producing vehicles off the road. The electric vehicles are projected to reduce GHG emissions by 11.94 tonnes every year, as compared to the fossil-fuel-powered vehicles they replaced. The green fleet also helps maintain clean air for our community.
These vehicles span all town departments, from an electric ice resurfacer used at The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre to a Chevy Bolt for the Fire Department.
Although 90% of the Alberta power grid comes from fossil fuels, approximately 25% of the electricity consumed by Town of Banff is from renewable sources.
Identical to e-vehicles for sale to consumers, the Town’s cost for electric vehicles is about 20% to 40% more than the gas-powered equivalent. However, with the much cheaper cost for electricity than fuel, and the cheaper cost for maintenance on an e-vehicle – because there are fewer moving parts – the cost of an e-vehicle roughly equals out in four to six years of operation.