Many cities, towns, and counties in the US have adopted plans to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions, on the theory that they have a duty to their citizens to provide them with an environment that will allow them and the progeny to survive. Most of those municipalities have a significant fleet of motor vehicles from police cars to emergency medical vehicles and trash-hauling trucks to street sweepers. Nationwide, they own and operate 4 million vehicles..
Ford estimates Dallas could save more than $300,000 over three years in tax credits and reduced fuel costs, just on its purchase of F-150 Lightning electric trucks. Ford also is working with the city on software to help optimize both the location and operation of its chargers, which could result in “substantial” savings, the company said in a statement.
About 5% of Dallas’ city fleet is made up of EVs, hybrids, or plug-in hybrids, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, which tracks cities’ clean transportation investments. Statewide, about 2% of vehicles are electric. In New York City and San Jose, California, 25% of the municipal fleet is made up of clean vehicles, according to the ACEEE. At the other end of the scale, only 2% of the city fleet in Phoenix is comprised of clean vehicles.
The Electrification Coalition is working to educate fleet managers in smaller cities about the tax credits and help them understand other basics, such as the best time of year to place an order for a fleet. A lot of cities have gotten past their initial EV purchase, said Matt Stephens-Rich, director of technical services for the coalition. “Now the attitude is shifting to not just ‘How do we buy one or two of these, but tens, dozens at a time?'” he said.