Electric buses will lower fuel costs, and potentially maintenance costs

Rachelle Stein-Wotten

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder

GERTIE’s future electric buses will be the first new vehicles in the community bus service’s fleet.

The Gabriola Community Bus Foundation (GCBF) received a $718,967 federal grant and $80,000 in provincial grants, which, along with local funds, has equipped the bus foundation to install two electric vehicle chargers and purchase two Micro Bird G5 electric buses to replace two of its three diesel-run buses currently in the fleet.

Steven Earle, GCBF board member, said the buses, which have space for 20 passengers, are expected to arrive next summer.

For the 2024 Regional District of Nanaimo budget year, taxpayer funding for GERTIE increased by $23,659, up to $204,000, and will follow with an annual 2 per cent cost of living increase as per the 2021-26 funding agreement. GCBF made the request for the increase in December to cover a loss of revenue from charter services as well as to bump up the annual maintenance budget.

The diesel buses in the fleet, all used vehicles, have had a history of repair needs, often causing schedule disruptions.

GCBF’s request at the time noted vehicle maintenance “has been significantly underfunded since GERTIE’s inception.”

By replacing the used diesel buses with new, electric buses GCBF is “hopeful” the fleet will be more reliable and present some savings, Earle said.

“Fuel costs will be significantly lower. We are hoping that maintenance costs will be lower, too.”

At this time, Earle said no service changes are planned in relation to introducing the electric buses to the fleet.

“Depending on how well the buses perform, both financially and in terms of reliability, we could potentially increase service later – not promising to do that,” Earle said.

One diesel bus will remain in service. Earle said charters have been booked for the summer, but could not provide information on expected revenue from charters at this time.