The first made-in-Manitoba electric bus went for a cruise Friday, taking Hydro employees from their Taylor Avenue office to the downtown Hydro building.

The bus cost $3 million with the province, Manitoba Hydro and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries each kicking in a million.

The prototype bus was developed through a partnership between the Manitoba government, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, New Flyer Industries, Manitoba Hydro and Red River College.

The bus is powered by electricity and can charge en-route. In less than 20 minutes, the charging system can replenish the energy used over one hour on the road.

The partners tested it over the past year and it has now passed the test of operating in the harsh Winnipeg winter.

Municipal Government Minister Stan Struthers said the new bus will revolutionize clean-energy public transit.

“Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels is good for the environment, our health and business,” said Struthers in a release.

CTV News is told it costs $60 dollars for a diesel bus to travel 100 kilometres, while that same distance for an electric bus costs just $12.

Four more electric buses are being produced in conjunction with the City of Winnipeg and will be added to Winnipeg Transit’s fleet for use on regular routes after undergoing testing.

Each new bus is expected to cost around a million dollars.