Galt Museum goes electric for new programming cargo van

The Galt Museum & Archives (Akaisamitohkanao'pa) is taking strides for a more sustainable future.

In coordination with the City of Lethbridge, museum staff are excited to announce that its new programming cargo van is an all-Electric Vehicle (EV). The van was recently purchased through the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC), which is a partnership of Alberta Municipalities, Rural Municipalities of Alberta and the Government of Alberta.

With a focus on how a changing climate impacts Alberta, MCCAC provides funding, technical assistance and education to municipalities, schools and community organizations to help them lower energy costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve climate resilience. More information on the Electric Vehicles For Municipalities Program is here.

Municipalities within Alberta were eligible to receive funding for multiple EVs to begin transitioning fleet vehicles towards more fuel-efficient options.

The Galt Museum & Archives and Fort Whoop-Up will be primarily using the van to cut down on usage of other staff vehicles. The van will be used for hauling materials and doing pickups and deliveries around the city. The van was purchased by the Galt in December of 2022.

“We are very pleased to be taking another step forward in environmental sustainability,” said Darrin Martens, CEO/Executive Director of the Galt Museum and Fort Whoop-Up. “By adding this vehicle to the Galt and the Fort, we are fulfilling a value of our new strategic plan as we continually work toward sustainability and holistically consider our practices from cultural, health, financial, environmental and social perspectives.”

“On behalf of Lethbridge City Council, I am thrilled to see this new EV for the Galt Museum & Archives and Fort Whoop-Up,” says Mayor Blaine Hyggen. “As we continue to work towards sustainable future energy use, this is another great initiative in supporting the transition to low-emission vehicles in Lethbridge.”

Through the MCCAC grants and rebate, the City of Lethbridge has additional EVs in other departments, says Rob Ulrich, General Manager of Fleet Services.

“We have recently acquired an Electric Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and an Electric Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) for the Waste & Environment department,” says Ulrich. “In addition, we are anticipating delivery of our first Electric Ice Resurfacer this fall.”

MCCAC says that driving electric will:

• Reduce maintenance costs and downtime because the brakes last longer and there is no need for oil changes
• Drive more efficiently because of regenerative braking. EVs generate energy when you slow down, compared to a regular car that wastes energy when slowing down
• Create a healthier environment for everyone in the community because EVs do not produce tailpipe emissions into the air we breathe

More information on the Galt Museum & Archives is available here: https://www.galtmuseum.com/