B.C. courier takes delivery of Canada’s first 100% electric trucks

VANCOUVER, B.C. — Novex Delivery Solutions is greening its fleet with the addition of the first two 100%-electric-powered trucks licensed in Canada.

The two Smith trucks drove arrived noiselessly at the plaza at Vancouver’s Millennium Water development, designed to be the most sustainable community in Canada, during a ceremony June 24.

Officials at Vancouver-owned and operated Novex say the company was the first same-day courier to use hybrid vehicles in Canada in 2003 and to become carbon-neutral in 2008. Further, Novex has made a commitment as a transportation company to reduce its carbon footprint by 70% by 2015. 

“Novex has made a commitment to do the right thing and focus on creating a sustainable company,” said Robert Safrata, CEO of Novex. “We do this by adhering to a triple bottom line that includes a social, environmental and economic focus. We are constantly amazed at the benefits of managing by the triple bottom line. For example, we have been working for almost three years to add these vehicles to our fleet due to the overwhelming emissions reductions, which is clearly an environmental benefit. A benefit of using these vehicles for early morning deliveries to hospitals and universities that are located in residential areas is they minimize noise pollution, and thereby significantly reduce the impact on the community for a positive social effect.”

These new vehicles will result in Novex saving approximately 58 C0₂ tonnes per year, equivalent to taking 12 cars off the road each year. Additionally, the fuel savings when using these two vehicles is expected to be approximately $25,000 per year. Novex already saves 88 C0₂ tonnes annually by using hybrids cars, natural gas vans and biodiesel freight vehicles in its fleet, equivalent to taking 18 cars off the road each year. 

During the ceremony, Novex was presented with an award from Offsetters, which does carbon offsetting for the company, “recognizing their carbon neutral status and their ongoing leadership role in taking action on climate change.”