Age of electric: Why Ontario rinks are slowly ditching their old ice resurfacers

Source: Trevor Pritchard · CBC NEWS · | November 16, 2021

Manufacturers say interest in electric models has shot up, but uncertainties remain

Source: Pictured is one of the two new electric ice resurfacers recently purchased by the City of Kingston. Several Ontario cities are in the process of converting part or all of their fleets to battery-powered models. (City of Kingston)

When Chris Decouto powers up the new electric Zambonis at the Invista Centre in Kingston, Ont., he's left with a good feeling.

"It's just knowing that there isn't that propane gas combustion engine operating in the facility," said Decouto, the city's arena operator. "You can't really beat zero emissions in terms of indoor air quality."

Decouto has been driving the older, louder propane- and gas-powered ice resurfacers  — commonly known by the ubiquitous brand name Zamboni, though there are different manufacturers — for the past 21 years.

But last month, the City of Kingston took ownership of two new electric-powered Zamboni models, citing fuel cost reductions of up to 80 per cent and significant maintenance savings. They plan to eventually rid themselves of all their older units.

They're not alone: several other Ontario municipalities have decided it's time to start switching over, as battery-powered machines become cheaper in the long term and concerns linger about arena air quality and carbon monoxide risks.

Not new tech

While municipal interest in electric ice resurfacers might be relatively new, the technology is actually older than Wayne Gretzky.

The first battery-powered machine was showcased at the 1960 Winter Olympics by Frank Zamboni himself, said Terry Piché, technical director for the Ontario Recreational Facilities Association (ORFA).