With its diesel-powered buses soon to be out of production, the City of Whitehorse plans to quickly scope out how it will manage to maintain service while moving toward transit with zero emissions.

While the city intended to phase out diesel buses over time, a 2020 feasibility study found that the current technology wouldn’t work here.

Not much has changed since then, transit services manager Jason Bradshaw told city council last Monday.

But Nova Bus, owned by the Volvo Group, recently announced it may stop making the diesel-powered buses used by the city once the current generation of engines is no longer available – which could be in as little as two years’ time.

“Considering these uncertainties, it is imperative to develop a comprehensive ‘road map’ to move forward with implementing a zero-emissions solution,” Bradshaw said.

The proposed $95,000 “Transit Decarbonization Roadmap” study would look at current and developing technologies, analyze operational impacts, estimate investment requirements and define a timeline.

Council will be asked to approve the capital expense this evening, with funds coming from reserves until an application to the Green Municipal Fund is approved. The study would be completed by the end of this year.

“This is not a surprise; we have been warned that we might have problems maintaining our transit fleet,” Coun. Dan Boyd said.

The two-year timeline is a surprise, however. He wondered if the city could work with other affected municipalities on research and lobbying efforts.

Coun. Ted Laking, who represents Yukon communities at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, was asked if the national organization could get involved in the issue.

“I would imagine that smaller communities are in a similar position to us, either thinking of buying up more diesel buses or doing a study,” he said.

Problems with current electric bus technology include high costs, battery limitations, emergency response and winter-related issues.

As well, new transit hubs would likely be required, Bradshaw noted, and the heavier buses would take a bigger toll on road surfaces.