VANCOUVER, B.C. — B.C.’s first enviroTrucks rolled onto the streets last week, a milestone for the Fraser Basin Council’s bid to “green up fleets” across the province, in partnership with the provincial government and the B.C. Trucking Association (BCTA).

“These vehicles are impressive,” said Environment Minister Barry Penner. “If B.C. fleet operators transitioned just 100 older trucks to the new enviroTrucks, it would give us the same greenhouse gas emission reduction, as removing more than 10 times as many smog-producing cars from B.C. roads. By running enviroTrucks, a company may achieve up to 20% in increased fuel efficiency. To move in that direction, Green Fleets BC is offering a financial incentive of up to $10,000 a vehicle (tractor and trailer) and up to $50,000 per fleet, to test-drive enviroTruck technologies.”

The enviroTruck is a Class 7 or 8 heavy-duty vehicle, featuring a newer model diesel engine that reduces particulate matter by 90% and smog-forming nitrous oxide particles by 45%. Unique add-on features on an enviroTruck are expected to save fuel, and drive down emissions even further. These features may include: an auxiliary power unit that reduces idling time and is expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 13.5 tonne per truck per year; speed limiters to prevent the truck from going over a pre-set speed limit, thereby decreasing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions; and aerodynamic improvements expected to result in an annual per truck and trailer reduction of 17.5 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

“The enviroTruck is one of the ways Green Fleets B.C. is building partnerships,” said David Marshall, the executive director for the Fraser Basin Council, a non-profit organization that advances sustainability. “Today we’re seeing some inspirational leadership shown in the transportation sector.”

The trucking industry needs credible and accurate information on technologies and strategies to reduce fuel consumption, greenhouse gases, and smog emissions in combination with financial incentives that target those approaches, said Paul Landry, the president and CEO of the BCTA. “The enviroTruck program understands and addresses those needs.”

The Green Fleets BC program has helped two B.C. companies transition a number of their vehicles to enviroTrucks. Glenncoe Transport from Kelowna, a division of Bison Transport, and Nanaimo-based Paradise Island Foods are now testing the technologies, and tracking cost savings that are linked to fuel efficiencies and the environmental benefits of moving to greener vehicles. The results of the enviroTruck project will be available at greenfleetsbc.com.

Over the next two years, Green Fleets B.C. initiatives are available and expected to help the transportation sector cut over 900 tonnes of smog-causing emissions and 200,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Fraser Basin Council.