Detroit Transitions Municipal Parking Department to Fully Electric Fleet

Detroit's Municipal Parking Department has become the first city department to fully convert its fleet to all electric. According to Mayor Mike Duggan, this is the first of what will be a larger movement to convert to electric and hybrid vehicles as part of the city’s shift toward greater sustainability.  

Last year, DDOT unveiled its first four all-electric buses; currently the city has over 250 electric and hybrid vehicles in the fleet. Detroit is now working toward converting the city’s active fleet of over 3000 vehicles to electric or hybrid vehicles. The city announced the addition of 48 new Chevy Bolt EVs and 25 on-site Level 2 charging stations.  

The new fleet was deployed the week of March 15, and residents can spot the new vehicles by the decals outfitted to illustrate the fleet’s 100% electric, zero emissions capacity.  

“This is our first major step toward converting city vehicles to more environmentally friendly and sustainable technologies, and I’m proud of our Municipal Parking Department and Director Keith Hutchings for leading the way,” Duggan said. “Electric vehicles are going to become the new standard everywhere, and we are going to support this transition in many ways.” 

There will not be any operational changes to the parking enforcement service and the entire staff has been trained to operate the electric vehicles. Director Keith Hutchings said that some MPD officers drive up to 150 miles per day and a fully charged Bolt has a range of more than 200 miles. He added, however, that officers are instructed to return the vehicles to the charging stations upon a thirty-percent charge to ensure the staff’s safety and efficiency. 

“The transition should be pretty seamless, because the vehicles will recharge overnight and have enough range to get through the next day, without having to stop,” Hutchings said.  

Hutchings added that Kelley Blue Book recognized the Chevrolet Bolt EX as the #1 Best Electric Cars of 2023, with an estimated EV range of 259 miles. The city of Detroit worked with DTE Energy to improve infrastructure at the charging site and to obtain a rebate that reduced the city’s cost for installing the charging infrastructure.   

Funding for the new fleet and infrastructure came from the city’s general fund: 

• Vehicle Cost: $26,211.00 per vehicle capitalized in a monthly lease payment of $501.02 per vehicle.  
• EV Infrastructure: $429,500.35 / 25 EV charging stations = $17,180.01 per charging station 
• Vehicle Technology and Upfitting: $1,348,830.00 / 48 vehicles = $28,100.62 per vehicle