Municipal fleet cuts costs by 80% with electric vehicles
The City of Chula Vista, located in California, embarked on a municipal fleet electrification program aligned with the city's sustainability goals. The program primarily focused on replacing light-duty vehicles used for short-distance travel by city employees in the Senior Vehicle Patrol (SVP), building code enforcement, and city pool. View the FExLS plan here.
Fleet and Infrastructure:
- 41 EVs procured via the Climate Mayors Electric Vehicle Purchasing Collaborative.
- Around 120 Level 2 charging stations were installed to support the fleet.
- 30-35 stations were installed free of charge, leveraging utility incentives in disadvantaged communities through a pilot project.
Key figures and impact:
- Capital cost per vehicle: $28,000 (procured through a municipal lease program).
- Average installation and equipment cost: $456 per station.
- Maintenance and repair costs:
- EVs: $0.03 per mile.
- Older ICE vehicles: $0.15 per mile.
In addition, training sessions were conducted for individual departments as they received EVs, with broader training initiatives planned for larger fleet pools.
The electrification program resulted in significant cost savings and operational improvements:
- EVs saved 75% on fuel costs.
- EVs were in operation 84% more time than older vehicles.
- EVs were 80% more cost-effective in terms of maintenance and repairs.
Operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions were lowered, with further savings expected from less staff time spent on maintenance, resources, and hazardous waste management.
Opportunities for Fleet Managers
- Prioritize Replacing Older Models: focus on replacing older, less efficient vehicles to realize immediate operational cost savings.
- Seek financial incentives: use leasing programs to access Federal Tax Credit and utility rate discounts to reduce costs.
- Optimize Fleet Utilization: Eliminate underused vehicles (traveling less than 4,000 miles per year) to cut costs and boost efficiency.
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