VANCOUVER – Telus announced today that it is introducing 10 gasoline-electric hybrid sedans to its fleet of vehicles in a pilot project intended to determine the cost-effectiveness and environmental benefits of integrating hybrid vehicles into the company’s fleet.
Ten Toyota Prius’ will replace conventional sedans in several of Telus’ major markets – two each in Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto.
"While the Prius’ cost significantly more than the sedans they are replacing, we expect a substantial reduction in fuel costs and maintenance expenses," says Joe Grech, Telus executive vice-president, technology and operations "That does not include the environmental cost savings such as reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants, which we expect to be significant."
The sedans will be used by employees who drive a lot of kilometers in heavy city traffic during an average week, such as customer service managers and maintenance supervisors. Telus expects the hybrids will have the most benefit in heavy city traffic because their electric motors kick in during slower, stop-and-start driving.
"If our trial goes as expected, I anticipate we will also start integrating hybrid vans and trucks into the fleet once they become available and can be modified to fit Telus’ applications."
Hybrid vehicles have two power plants – one internal combustion engine and one electric. The two engines can operate in conjunction or independently, with the electric engine being powered by batteries recharged by power generated during braking and the operation of the gas engine. The result is that a hybrid vehicle burns roughly half the fuel of a standard vehicle and emits half of the carbon dioxide and close to 90% less air pollution.
Telus has a fleet of more than 5,000 vehicles nationally, 3,500 of them light duty cars, trucks, and vans while the remaining are heavy trucks and machinery. The fleet was driven a total of 73.4 million kilometers last year, using more than 14 million litres of fuel.
