The City of Sacramento has updated its Fleet Sustainability Policy to require that 50% of all light-duty replacement vehicles purchased must be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2018. This requirement increases to 75% by 2020.

The change, initiated by the Fleet Management Division, replaces the old policy that 30% of replacement vehicles purchased must run on alternative fuel or be alternatively powered. This policy had no target date. Fleet Management has already reached its 30% commitment. The rationale for the change is that technology advancements have expanded the capabilities of ZEVs and alternatively powered vehicles so more work applications can be met with them. Additionally, more vehicles are now available, as well as funding, making them in many cases as affordable as gasoline-powered vehicles.

The vehicles will be budgeted as part of the city’s annual fleet replacement plan, with state or federal rebates used to offset the cost when possible.

The city is in the process of receiving 35 Chevrolet Bolt EVs for this year’s procurement, said Mark Stevens, fleet manager. The vehicles cost $33,700 each, and the fleet expects to recoup $312,500 through rebates from the Center for Sustainable Energy and the California Air Resources Board.

The vehicles will be going to the motor pool, to engineering inspectors and code enforcement officers, and to the Parking Enforcement division.

The city’s alternative-fuel fleet consists of 52 vehicles that run on compressed natural gas (CNG), 66 on liquefied natural gas (LNG), seven on propane autogas, two on hydrogen, 309 on E-85, and 63 on electricity — of these 17 are plug-in hybrid vehicles and 46 are battery-electric vehicles. The fleet also uses renewable diesel.