Red River College Polytech unveiled Manitoba’s first low-carbon school bus converted from diesel power to electric on Tuesday.
The conversion kit — the result of a collaborative project involving RRC Polytech’s vehicle technology and energy centre, Noble Northern and Seven Oaks School Division — was funded by the province and the Canadian Shield Foundation. The project began in August 2023, when Seven Oaks provided a bus for conversion.
RRC Polytech said in a news release that retrofitting an already-owned diesel bus is more than $100,000 cheaper than buying a new Type C electric school bus, even when including labour costs.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS
A view under the hood of Manitoba’s first low-carbon school bus converted from diesel to electric power.
“The benefits of converting just one bus also include saving up to $11,000 in fuel costs and reducing 21.6 tonnes of CO2 emissions per school year,” the release said.
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Other advantages include lower maintenance costs and less air and noise pollution.
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