Living up to ‘Beverly Hills’ Standards: Beverly Hills Fleet on Staff Training and ‘Green’ Operations
Beverly Hills, Calif., Fleet Services operates in a new facility constructed in 2008 -- a LEED Silver certified building -- and is constructing a compressed natural gas (CNG) station expected to be completed in April.
Beverly Hills Fleet Services, under the Public Works & Transportation Department, maintains 360 City units.
2 min to read
Ad Loading...
Beverly Hills Fleet Services, under the Public Works & Transportation Department, maintains 360 City units.
The City of Beverly Hills, Calif., Fleet Services recently opened its doors to the Government Fleet magazine editors, providing an information session and facility tour. The City, known for its rich and famous, has a fleet division to be proud of, with a new facility constructed in 2008 -- a LEED Silver certified building -- and a compressed natural gas (CNG) station that is expected to be completed in April. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internallly recognized certification for building sustainability.
According to Rene Biadoma, fleet manager, and Craig Crowder, fleet operations supervisor for the City, one of things they are most proud of is the quality of their staff and ability to keep staff adequately trained. A wall of ASE and other certificates sits just outside Crowder's office, a testament to the quality of fleet technicians at the City.
Ad Loading...
"The entire crew is ASE certified, boasting 16 ASE Master certificates and an unbroken streak of ASE Blue Seal certifications for Fleet Services since 2003," Biadoma said.
Another accomplishment is the City's current construction of a CNG fueling facility within the fleet facility exclusively for fueling City vehicles. Construction of the fueling facility costs $1M, partially paid for by an MSRC (Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee) grant of $350,000, according to Biadoma. The grant also aids in the purchase of 10 heavy-duty CNG-fueled trucks to replace 10 diesel-powered trucks. The grant amount for procurement is $250,000, or $25,000 toward the increased cost of each vehicle. The fleet division already has five vehicles delivered-four sweepers and one high-pressure sewer cleaner. The next vehicles in line to be added to the City fleet are two refuse trucks.
Pictured are Rene Biadoma, fleet manager, and Craig Crowder, fleet operations supervisor for the City of Beverly Hills.
The CNG fueling station and new vehicles are among the City's other "green" vehicles, part of the Beverly Hills Sustainable City Plan that aims to minimize mobile source emissions from vehicles and minimize stationary source air emissions, among other goals, Biadoma stated. Other alt-fuel vehicles include 3 NEVs (neighborhood electric vehicles) and 15 hybrid passenger vehicles.
Fleet Services has a budget of $9.6M, which includes a $1.6M replacement program. It maintains approximately 360 units from four different departments, including police and fire, and normally employs 12 employees.
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.
Hybrids bridge the gap between ICE vehicles and EVs, making them a smart choice for fleets that want to reduce emissions but aren’t ready to fully electrify. Hybrids, which are powered by internal combustion engines and electric motors, capture the benefits of electric power without the barriers many organizations find challenging.
Public fleets face constant pressure to do more with limited budgets. This eBook outlines how modern fleet software helps agencies extend asset life, reduce unplanned downtime, and improve safety by automating maintenance, using smarter video insights, and unifying fleet data. A practical look at how technology can drive measurable ROI for taxpayers.
The pilot will use Cero Global’s technology on city-owned vehicles to evaluate its impact on emissions and fuel consumption, as well as potential savings in municipal operating costs.
Philadelphia is shifting its trash collection fleet toward cleaner operations with a new partnership that will power 35 CNG compactors using renewable natural gas sourced from regional landfills.
