The Abbotsford school district will spend up to $300,000 this year to replace old and damaged vehicles.
During the December ice storm, a tree fell at a district storage facility and “extensively damaged” three parked 2005 Toyota Echos, according to a district report. The IT department cars will be replaced with electric vehicles at a cost of approximately $40,000 each – most of which will be covered by insurance claims, according to education board chair Shirley Wilson.
Wilson said the district chose to buy electric vehicles in part due to environment concerns and a desire to lessen its carbon footprint.
Four other vehicles – three vans and an SUV – that have reached the end of their useful lives will be replaced with new ones that will be upgraded for district uses.