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Saskatoon Transit wants to test drive an electric bus for a year with the possibility of a move to an entire electric fleet as early as 2022.

The experiment could lead to the conversion of the entire fleet of Saskatoon Transit buses to electric battery buses earlier than expected, a City of Saskatoon report says.

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The Saskatchewan Research Council is partnering with Saskatoon Transit for the one-year experiment, which would cost $375,000 for a one-year lease of an electric bus. The cost would be paid through a fund used to replace buses; federal funding could cover half the cost.

Beyond the environmental benefits of switching to electric, battery-operated buses offer long-term financial benefits despite the upfront cost of about twice the price of a regular bus, the report says.

“A significant benefit very appealing to Saskatoon Transit is the expected increase in reliability,” it adds.