Renewable energy experts say N.W.T. government can do more to electrify its 1,088 vehicle fleet

A small fraction of vehicles belonging to the Government of the Northwest Territories are hybrid electric — and renewable energy experts are urging the territory to do more to green its fleet.

The territorial government has 1,088 vehicles across its departments, according to data from the N.W.T.'s Department of Infrastructure. 

The majority of those vehicles — 902, to be precise — are powered by gasoline. Diesel fuels 168 vehicles, and eight are hybrids that use a combination of gas and electricity. 

Andrew Robinson, a renewable energy consultant who lives in Yellowknife, told CBC News the numbers reflect a bit of progress. "A few years ago, they had two [hybrids]," he said. "But that still leaves over 1,000 that could be hybrids, or plug-in hybrids or electric." 

A spokesperson for the infrastructure department wrote in an email that light duty fleet vehicles are used for project and program delivery and light cargo transportation, while heavy duty vehicles are typically used for more specialized work — like fuel delivery and maintenance work for roads and airports. 

Robinson said there are some things the territory does for which a fully electric vehicle isn't a good fit. In those cases, he says a plug-in hybrid is a better alternative because it can run on electricity within a community but can be switched to fuel for driving beyond it.

Transportation accounted for 63 per cent of the N.W.T.'s greenhouse gas emissions in 2021, with heavy duty diesel vehicles generating more of those emissions than aviation.

The territorial government is looking into the possibility of an electric vehicle procurement policy. According to its most recent energy initiatives report, $30,000 was allocated for that work in the last fiscal year. 

That assessment work is still ongoing, according to the infrastructure department. 

In an emailed statement, Infrastructure Minister Caroline Wawzonek said she was eager to review the findings. "I'm optimistic that their assessment will identify tangible opportunities to test the viability of EVs for the GNWT's fleet," she said. 

"This is an area where technology is advancing quickly and opportunities for funding to support these changes are more readily available," said Wawzonek, citing Honda's announcement on Thursday that it would build an electric vehicle assembly plant and EV battery plant in Ontario. 

That announcement is being hailed as Canada's first comprehensive electric vehicle supply chain. 

Back in December, the federal government announced plans to phase out the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035. 

Robinson said a procurement policy could stipulate that the territory purchase the most efficient vehicle whenever a replacement is needed. Since fleet vehicles tend to have short lifespans, he said, such a policy would lead to an entire fleet of hybrid and electric vehicles in about eight to 10 years.