By Sheldon Spackman

Western Canada’s only electric school bus visits Red Deer

Mar 21, 2018 | 3:45 PM

A one-of-a-kind school bus made its way to Red Deer on Wednesday for an appearance at the 36th Annual ASTAC Trade Show and Conference.

The Alberta Student Transportation Advisory Council event runs Mar 20 – 22 and is consistently recognized as the premier school transportation conference in Canada. A full trade show described as a venue for showcasing new buses, parts, supplies, computer routing systems, video systems and more.

The bus is eLion all-electric school bus and the first and only electric school bus in western Canada. In addition, officials with Stony Plain-based Rental Bus Lines Ltd which has paid for the bus, say it’s the only one of its size that is manufactured in Canada and designed for the local climate.

In a release, Rental Bus Lines spokesperson Jeremy Kureluk says the bus is manufactured using composite materials, allowing it to last longer and perform better in the Canadian climate.

He says a diesel version of the bus has been in the company’s fleet since 2013 but the electric one will likely be the only one on the road until financial assistance becomes available.

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Rental Bus Lines Ltd is the Lions Dealership for Alberta and a contractor in the County of Parkland. The company has 48 routes with 60 buses in its fleet, in addition to having a 12,000 sq ft shop and 1,600 sq ft office using solar power with a diesel backup generator in Stony Plain.