The City of Los Angeles has committed to leasing 160 battery-electric vehicles and 128 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced. The LAPD is testing the Tesla Model S and BMW i3.
September 14, 2015
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Police Chief Charlie Beck demonstrate charging of BMW i3. Photo courtesy of City of Los Angeles.
2 min to read
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Police Chief Charlie Beck demonstrate charging of BMW i3. Photo courtesy of City of Los Angeles.
The City of Los Angeles has committed to leasing 160 battery-electric vehicles and 128 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced.
Under the program, city departments will lease the BEVs and PHEVs to replace aging city vehicles, including those with conventional internal combustion engines. The Los Angeles Police (LAPD), Fire, General Services, and Water and Power (LADWP) departments will together lease the battery-electric vehicles, while the LADWP and the General Services Department will lease the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
Ad Loading...
This move will give Los Angeles the largest city-owned battery-electric vehicle fleet in the U.S., according to the mayor.
The leases will go to bid this fall. The mayor's office hopes to have vehicles delivered by April 2016.
In addition to the 288 battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is also being loaned a Tesla Model S P85D and a BMW i3, which will be used for testing and research by LAPD technical experts to determine how this technology can support their future needs. The department has also already purchased 23 electric scooters and three electric motorcycles for use by patrol officers.
One hundred of the battery-electric vehicles will be dedicated to the LAPD, making it the largest single departmental procurement to date, according to the mayor's office. The battery-electric vehicles will be used by detectives, investigators, and administrative employees. The LADWP will also lease 44 battery-electric vehicles and 113 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
The vehicle switch is expected to cut vehicle operating costs by an estimated 41% (21 cents per mile for EVs versus 37 cents per mile for conventional vehicles), as well as free up city budget dollars currently allocated to finance the purchase vehicles, so city departments can invest in key infrastructure upgrades, the mayor said. In addition, the electric vehicles are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (equivalent to planting over 20,000 trees) while lowering harmful smog forming pollutants such as NOx and hydrocarbons.
Ad Loading...
Mayor Garcetti last year issued the Sustainable City pLAn, a blueprint to make Los Angeles more sustainable and deliver environmental and economic benefits to the city. The program aims for electric vehicles to make up 50% of the city’s annual light-duty vehicle purchases by 2017, with that vehicle share to reach 80% by 2025.
King County Metro is piloting Heliox’s new 480-kW Flex Pro charger to support expansion of its battery-electric bus fleet and depot charging infrastructure. The compact charging system supports pantograph and plug-in charging configurations for high-density transit operations.
HDOT, community leaders and project partners recently participated in a commissioning and blessing ceremony celebrating the opening of the new charging site.
Eastman launched Saflex Evoca XIR.SR, an infrared-reflective interlayer for EV panoramic sunroofs designed to reduce cabin heat, improve occupant comfort, and support battery efficiency.
The City of Long Beach, California, has unveiled its first two all-electric garbage trucks, marking the start of a pilot program as the city evaluates a broader transition away from compressed natural gas.
Beam Global and HEVO have launched an integrated autonomous wireless charging system that pairs off-grid solar EV infrastructure with wireless charging technology, designed to support autonomous vehicle operations and electric fleet deployments.
Alabama A&M University has added four electric patrol vehicles to its Department of Public Safety fleet, becoming the first university in the state to deploy electric police vehicles.
Sustainability mandates and tight budgets don't have to be in conflict. Hybrids offer a practical, low-risk path to meaningful emissions reductions without new infrastructure spending or operational disruption. Download the eBook for the data and the roadmap to make the case internally and act with confidence.
