Built to allow up to 52 guests to explore the frozen wilderness of Alberta’s Jasper National Park in serene, environmentally responsible silence, the new Electric Ice Explorer joining Pursuit Banff’s Columbia Icefield Adventure fleet is a machine that’s packed with firsts.
Developed in partnership with the heavy duty truck experts at Noble Northern, Pursuit’s new tourist EV is a lot more than an electrified version of a 4WD diesel bus. The Electric Ice Explorer’s frame is purpose-built for the task at hand, with a bespoke chassis that’s just half the weight of a conventional truck frame.
That reduced weight allows the truck to carry more batteries without becoming so heavy that it would crack or damage the environment that its eco-tourists are there to to experience.
Helping make sure those tourists can get way out onto the glacier and still make it back, the vehicle is equipped with bifacial solar panels, regenerative braking, and geofencing technology that manages speed and braking in designated glacier areas for both maximum range and environmental sensitivity.
“The Columbia Icefield is one of the most significant places where we operate, and how we show up here matters,” explains Stuart Back, Chief Operating Officer of Pursuit Banff Jasper Collection. “Starting with one vehicle is intentional. It allows us to learn in real-world conditions and apply those lessons over time.”
