VICTORIA --
The Sooke School District (SD62) is the first jurisdiction in B.C. to introduce electric school buses to its fleet.
The province says that the fully electric buses are better for the environment and are smoother and quieter than current diesel buses.
Each electric bus is expected to remove about 17 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually compared to diesel buses, and cost less to maintain over time, according to the province.
SD62's first electric bus entered service this week, with another expected to arrive in roughly two weeks.
"By shifting gears from diesel to electric school buses, these K-12 students are benefiting from our government’s work to create healthier and more sustainable learning environments across B.C.," said Premier John Horgan, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca, in a statement Thursday.