Churchill, Manitoba, is located in the Arctic, where the windswept tundra changes to the frozen waters of Hudson Bay. Every fall, this town, which can only be reached by train or plane, is the polar bear capital of the world. Visitors come to watch a magnificent event: polar bears gathering on the shore, waiting for the bay to freeze so that they can go to the sea ice and hunt.
For years, the Tundra Buggy has been the only vehicle used for such amazing wildlife excursions. These massive cars are a mixture of a school bus, a tank, and an off-road Defender. They are built to drive through snow-covered areas but still allow passengers to have a safe and high view of what is happening. However, there has been a trade-off over the years: traditional diesel-fueled Tundra Buggies have been carrying large environmental impacts, injecting pollutants into an ecosystem that is otherwise fragile and releasing engine noise that both the animals and the stillness of the Arctic area can hear and get disturbed by.
It is a tough problem. Frontiers North Adventures – the first choice for the polar bear tour in Churchill and a Certified B Corporation – took steps to resolve it. Their answer? The electric Tundra Buggy, the first and only one of its kind in the world.
Creating an all-terrain vehicle powered by a battery that would withstand sub-zero temperatures and carry 40 passengers wasn’t easy. “There was no blueprint,” Frontiers North’s Jessica Burtnick said. Instead, the company was created from scratch. With the help of Winnipeg electric bus builder New Flyer (which donated retired batteries) and Red River College Polytechnic’s Vehicle Technology & Energy Centre, the team created a solution tailored to Churchill’s environment. They were supported by 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.
