Pursuit Banff Launches Electric Ice Explorer
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- Pursuit Banff launched the Electric Ice Explorer, a purpose‑built electric vehicle that can carry up to 52 guests on the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park.
- Noble Northern partnered with Pursuit to design a bespoke chassis that is half the weight of a conventional truck frame, allowing larger battery capacity without harming the glacier.
- Electric Ice Explorer is equipped with bifacial solar panels, regenerative braking, and geofencing technology that controls speed and braking in designated glacier zones to maximize range and environmental sensitivity.
- Stuart Back, COO of Pursuit Banff Jasper Collection, said the rollout begins with a single vehicle to learn in real‑world conditions and apply lessons over time.
- Pursuit estimates the vehicle can reduce 200 to 300 kg of CO₂ emissions each day it operates.
- Pursuit Collection produced a launch video that showcases the new Electric Ice Explorer in action.
Why it matters: Eco‑tourists and the Columbia Icefield operator gain a low‑emission way to access a fragile glacier, while the vehicle’s lightweight design and solar‑assisted power cut daily CO₂ output by up to 300 kg, reducing environmental impact without sacrificing visitor capacity and setting a precedent for sustainable tourism in sensitive alpine areas.
