麻豆传媒

Skip to main content

World's first electric vehicle used for polar bear spotting in Churchill, Man.

The Frontiers North Adventures EV Tundra Buggy is seen in a photo. The Frontiers North Adventures EV Tundra Buggy is seen in a photo.
Share
Barrie -

A vehicle used to transport tourists on polar bear spotting adventures in Churchill, Man., has received a green makeover.

Frontiers North Adventures says one of its Tundra Buggies, which seats up to 40 passengers, has moved from diesel to electric power.

The vehicle was converted using a repurposed battery from an e-bus. It is now the first of its kind in the world.

鈥淏y transitioning from diesel to electric, we鈥檙e going to -- in a normal season -- we will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by about 8.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide,鈥 John Gunter the CEO and president of Frontiers North Adventures, told 麻豆传媒.

Gunter said the Tundra Buggy was shipped from Churchill to Winnipeg, where it was lifted off its frame.

鈥淲e rolled out the diesel undercarriage and we rolled in a new frame, new suspension, new axles, new propulsion, new motors,鈥 he said.

In a blog post last week, the company said the project was done in collaboration with Red River College, to transform one of the vehicles in its fleet.

Frontiers North Adventures said the collaboration was 鈥渕ade possible through Manitoba鈥檚 Conservation and Climate Find, the Vehicle Technology Centre, and support and technical services from RRC Polytech鈥檚 Technology and Energy Centre.鈥

In a blog post, the company said the new EV Tundra Buggy emits 鈥渮ero emissions and minimal sound,鈥 which helps to provide a 鈥渓ess-intrusive experience for our guests and wildlife.鈥

According to the post, the vehicle was taken out to roam the subarctic tundra near Churchill 鈥渁midst the wild polar bears鈥 on Nov. 20.

Gunter said in addition to contributing to the company鈥檚 reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, 鈥渢he main deliverable of this EV Tundra Buggy will be a silent touring experience for our guests."

鈥淭he EV Tundra Buggy makes it easier for machines to fade more into the background of any guest鈥檚 wildlife experience in Churchill,鈥 Gunter said in the blog post.

The company said it plans to convert all 12 vehicles in its fleet from diesel to electric power before the end of the decade.

鈥淎s we continue to transform our remaining Tundra Buggy fleet, our GHG emissions could be reduced by more than 3,600 Tonnes of carbon dioxide over the next 25 years,鈥 the blog post reads.  

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Childhood sleep issues may raise suicide risk, study finds

If your child sometimes has trouble sleeping, it may be easy to chalk it up to a phase they will grow out of one day. But a new study suggests possible serious consequences for this line of thought 鈥 such as a higher risk for suicidal ideation or attempts when they are older.

Local Spotlight

Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

They say a dog is a man鈥檚 best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.