City in North Carolina Takes Its Next EV Steps

The city of Charlotte, North Carolina, just completed its first preventive maintenance for its F-150 Lightning.

The EV is used for personnel transportation and transporting tools, with limited towing, according to Chris Davis, operations supervisor and equipment manager.

At 6,575 miles, Davis says there were no major issues from the inspection, just normal upkeep such as:

• Inflating tires to 40 PSI,
• Rotating tires,
• Replacing driver-side windshield wiper.

Plus, Davis states “The brakes looked nearly new. Regenerative braking and one-pedal driving have a positive impact on brake wear.”

As for charging, the EV is charged when convenient and with an onsite Level 2 charger. Because of what the truck is used for, the battery usually doesn’t go below 20%, and operates between a 40% and 80% charge, according to Davis.

When asked about cost reduction savings in fleet maintenance when it comes to transitioning to EVs, Davis says the initial estimates predict a 30% savings in maintenance costs.

The Path to Sustainability

In 2018, the city council of Charlotte, North Carolina, passed the Sustainable and Resilient Charlotte by 2050 Resolution.

The plan aims to:

• Have the city fleet and facilities be fueled by 100% zero-carbon sources by 2030,
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to below 2 tons of CO2 equivalent per person annually,
• Adopt the Strategic Energy Action Plan.

The Strategic Energy Action Plan was unanimously approved by City Council in 2018 and will help the city achieve its sustainability goals.

The city is beginning to build a vehicle charging infrastructure and will add around 850 more EVs to its fleet, according to Davis.