This was my first winter on a carbon belt drive bike, and I love how low-maintenance my ride has been (no chains to clean and lubricate), particularly considering how silly lubricants get in the extreme cold. I have an internally geared hub (IGH) to deal with mild hills.

If your route is super-flat, you might want to consider the belt drive on a single speed (the oil bath in the IGH hub congeals in extreme cold). Studded tires will be a needed accessory, and mechanical disk brakes would be desirable (I have had issues with seals on hydraulics when it goes below 0F). Have fun with your research!