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Battery technology has also improved markedly since 2014, giving electric buses a far longer range. Winnipeg’s current electric buses have a range of about 150 kilometres before they require a charge. Due to improved battery density, electric buses rolling out of New Flyer in 2018 have a range of about 325 kilometres and are expected to improve to 500 kilometres by 2019.

So why isn’t Winnipeg Transit putting more of these buses on the road? The pilot project officially ended in November 2017. And while the four electric buses are still running in Winnipeg, there are no immediate plans to expand the fleet.

City and provincial officials say they’re still studying the data from the project and are expected to report their findings later this year. But while the Pallister government’s climate change plan released in October calls for the replacement of 100 diesel buses with electric ones, there are still no plans to begin the procurement process.

In other words, neither level of government is moving very quickly on this, even though the technology has been proven for some time.

Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires says her department is still studying electric bus proposals and expects to release a report in the near future.

“We certainly know that it’s an area worthy of significant consideration and it’s very timely as we’re looking at what we’re doing with our climate plan and how we’re going to reduce carbon,” said Squires, adding government is considering a number of strategies to move to a low-carbon economy. “We have a limited amount of money to invest in methods that will help us make that transition and undoubtedly the electrification of transit is one of them.”