In the northern community of Churchill, Manitoba (Canada), thosands of tourists come every year to catch a glimpse of the polar bears that convene along the shallow waters of Hudson Bay.
For the bear watchers, the journey to see the Arctic wildlife consists of an unusual journey: eight hours riding in a large, spacecraft-like vehicle called the Tundra Buggy. The gas-guzzling Arctic off-roader has five-foot diameter wheels, a heated interior and can hold up to 40 people.
Compared to Europe, the uptake of zero-emission recreational vehicles in Canada is modest — but now a handful of tourism companies and manufacturers are setting a climate-friendly standard with electric Tundra Buggies, watercraft and snowmobiles.
As a result, the company decided to convert its tourism fleet of 12 diesel-engine Tundra Buggies to zero-emission electric vehicles. And in November, the first battery-powered Tundra Buggy rolled onto the frozen ground. In lieu of the rumble of a diesel engine, there was silence — a vastly improved touring experience for both bears and humans alike.