Electric utility adds first electric bucket truck for routes in Brampton and Hamilton

A Mississauga-based electric utility has added an electric bucket truck to its fleet.

Alectra Utilities added its first all-electric bucket truck — an International eMV all-electric double bucket truck, according to a press release from Alectra.

The move is part of the company’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Power line technicians will use the EV bucket truck in day-to-day overhead line maintenance operations. The truck Alectra received is one of the first of its kind in Ontario.

Toronto Hydro announced yesterday (Sept. 11), they were also adding a fully electric bucket truck to its fleet. And Brampton made history in 2021 when city council approved the purchase of a Rosenbauer RT electric fire truck.

“The addition of our first fully electric bucket truck marks a significant step towards electrification,” said Chris Hudson, senior vice president of network operations for Alectra Utilities. “Integrating this cutting-edge vehicle into our fleet is part of our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and fostering a cleaner energy future.”

As part of a forward-looking pilot program, Alectra’s Operations team will integrate the electric vehicle bucket truck into its fleet over the next nine months.

The truck will rotate between three of Alectra’s largest service centres in Markham, Hamilton and Brampton.

The program aims to evaluate the practicality and potential of this vehicle for future deployment. Based on the average annual Canadian vehicle emissions, adding this EV bucket truck is equivalent to removing approximately two average passenger vehicles off the road.

Alectra’s other sustainability initiatives also includes the integration of three Ford E-Transits and four Plug-In Hybrid Ford Escapes into its field operations.

More information about Alectra can be found here.