Commitment to carbon neutrality leads to the purchase of an electric Zamboni

Sault begins electrifying its vehicle fleet In true Canadian fashion the first green vehicle addition purchased by the Sault Ste. Marie is a Zamboni to resurface ice at local arenas.

The City of Sault Ste. Marie has begun the process of electrifying its fleet of vehicles and their first green addition is a very Canadian one.

Recently the city revealed that the first electric vehicle it has purchased is a Zamboni.

City officials said they have been working towards electrifying vehicles across all of their business lines for several year – however, the humour of their first fully electric vehicle purchase being a Zamboni is not lost on staff.

“I’m proud to have that as the first vehicle with the City of Sault Ste. Marie as an electric ice resurfacer,” said Brent Lamming, the city’s director of Community Services.

“I really do think it is fitting that us being in the north, and the passion that people have for hockey here in the Sault.”

The addition aligns with the city’s commitment towards carbon neutrality, among other benefits compared to the gas-powered alternative.

“Every year it eliminates 13.8 tons of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,” said Lamming.

“It also reduces noise pollution.”

The resurfacer is more expensive than its predecessor though officials said they hope the electric Zamboni inspires other members of the community to further their own efforts to go green.

“It’s $166,000 that includes the charger, we charge it here. A traditional unit is approximately $110,000,” said Lamming.

“Approximately a $50,000 difference in price, but over the length of that we’ll recoup a lot of that in the savings in maintenance.”

The City of Timmins also has an electric Zamboni, while Greater Sudbury and North Bay are both in the process of purchasing green ice resurfacing machines.

“Most of the components are quite similar. A lot of the new updates are automatic versus manual, but primarily everything is the same,” said Chad Bouchard with the Soo Arena Association.

Plans to replace the next gas-fired Zamboni with an electric version will soon head to council, though an electric city bus is the next green vehicle the city is set to unveil.

City officials told CTV News they plan to eventually switch to electric ice resurfacing machines for its entire fleet of six.