Churchill in Manitoba is located at the very top of the Arctic, where the barren tundra is replaced by the frozen waters of Hudson Bay. Every fall, this little town, which can only be reached by train or plane, becomes the polar bear capital of the world. The tourists flock here to witness an awesome spectacle: polar bears gathering on the shore, waiting for the bay to freeze so that they can go out on the sea ice and hunt.
For a long time, the Tundra Buggy has been the vehicle of choice for these amazing nature expeditions. In terms of design, it is something between a school bus, a tank, an off-road Defender and these massive vehicles are built to power through snow-covered terrains while giving the riders a safe, high vantage point to see what’s going on down there. But for decades, there has been a trade-off: the Tundra Buggies that run on diesel have a significant negative impact on the environment as they emit pollutants in the fragile ecosystem and produce engine noise that scares the animals and disturbs the quiet of the Arctic nature.
That is quite a predicament. Frontiers North Adventures — the polar bear tours in Churchill, the B Corp certified company — took the initiative to solve it. Their answer was to build the world’s first electric Tundra Buggy.
It was not easy to design and build a battery-powered all-terrain vehicle that would hold 40 people and be able to operate in below-zero temperatures. “We had no map to follow,” said Jessica Burtnick of Frontiers North. So, a new company had to be born out of nowhere to solve this problem. The team with the support of Winnipeg electric bus manufacturer New Flyer (which provided used batteries for free), and Red River College Polytechnic’s Vehicle Technology & Energy Centre fabricated a solution that was custom made for the environment in Churchill. They got support from Manitoba’s Conservation and Climate Fund.
The result was a four-gigantic recycled battery-powered pilot previously used in public transit. They had to be able to conduct daily tours multiple times within three days before needing a charge, while keeping passengers warm, comfortable, and safe. That meant adding heating, panoramic windows, and even bathrooms, without compromising on sustainability.
The environmental payoff is astounding. With its fleet of 12 Tundra Buggies electrified, Frontiers North expects to cut carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 3,600 tons over 25 years. The change is more than about emissions, however.
Most dramatically, perhaps, is silence. Unlike their diesel ancestors, these electric Buggies move silently across the tundra. That means guests can listen to the Arctic—snow crunching under wheels, the thump of far-off bird wings, and, occasionally, the muffled sounds of a passing polar bear. The lack of engine noise also diminishes disturbance to wildlife, making it a more polite, interactive experience for animals and visitors both.
Ultimately, the electric Tundra Buggy is not a technological innovation—it’s a badge of honor. For Frontiers North, going electric isn’t an advertising gimmick; it’s a commitment to ensuring that every land and wildlife that make Churchill such a singular destination remain intact. As of 2023, two electric Buggies already ride the tundra, to electrify the entire fleet by the end of the decade.
By doing this, Churchill is setting a precedent for a cleaner future for travel. As global climate change continues to put polar bears in danger in their homes, efforts like this one serve as a reminder that technology and conservation can—and should—be an alliance. This electric Tundra Buggy is not just revolutionizing humans’ visits to the Arctic; it is keeping those white expanses and their notorious residents there for years to come.
