Airdrie Olympia IceBear Electric Ice Resurfacer BEV

Overview

The City of Airdrie has made steps towards becoming more environmentally friendly by embracing green alternatives. As part of the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre’s Electric Vehicles for Municipalities (EVM) Program, the City of Airdrie purchased a 2019 Olympia IceBear Ice Resurfacer Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV).

“We appreciate the support from MCCAC which allowed us to continue to further our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint at our three indoor arenas”

Jeremy Holmes, Arena Operations Team Leader

Approach

According to Jeremy Holmes, City of Airdrie Arenas operation team leader, the new model of ice resurfacer is electric and battery operated, which will greatly reduce emissions compared to a gas ice resurfacer. The City operates three ice resurfacing machines, with one in each indoor arena. The new addition will allow for older, less environmentally-friendly models to be retired.

“The IceBear has been great. The overall functionality, battery life and new technology of the battery charger has been really good. We saw less draw on the batteries over the course of the day with the same amount of usage compared to the previous battery operated machine. The charger is more efficient and runs less than the old one. Overall really good so far.”

Jeremy Holmes, Arena Operations Team Leader

Results

The City of Airdrie received $49,500 in funding to purchase the electric ice resurfacer. The new addition to their fleet will reduce their corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 4.68 tonnes of CO2E each year.

Driving the electric ice resurfacer will help Airdrie:

• Reduce maintenance costs and down-time because the brakes last much longer and there’s no need for oil changes with electric vehicles;
• Drive more efficiently because of the regenerative braking. Electric vehicles generate energy when you slow down compared to a regular car that wastes energy while slowing down;
• Create a healthier environment for everyone in their community because electric vehicles do not produce tailpipe emissions into the air we all breathe.

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Purchase a variety of electric vehicles, charging stations, and get a feasibility study for your municipality. Apply for funding to the Electric Vehicles for Municipalities Program today.