Officials received keys to the city’s first fully electric medium-duty truck at the Portland Water Bureau Maintenance and Operations yard.

“Transportation has always been close to my heart,” Mayor Keith Wilson said before taking the first drive in the Freightliner eM2. “By powering essential services with electricity, we improve air quality in every neighborhood and strengthen our resilience to climate change.”

The event included Wilson, Deputy City Administrators Donnie Oliviera and Priya Dhanapal, CityFleet Director Mike Roy, and representatives from Daimler Truck North America, which worked with the city on the build.

“This first unit will be a catalyst for future EV builds for the City of Portland fleet,” Roy said.

Truck Will Replace Diesel Unit For Saw Cutting Work

The truck will be fitted with the Water Bureau’s existing saw-cutting body, replacing a diesel-powered unit and reducing emissions and noise in Portland neighborhoods. The city said the vehicle was designed with Daimler Truck engineers to meet operational needs, including a shorter wheelbase for a tighter turning radius and higher visibility for urban work.

Funding for the purchase came from a Clean Diesel Emissions Mitigation grant from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund.

“When the City purchases an electric vehicle, we are investing in clean energy jobs—from those designing and manufacturing these vehicles to those installing charging infrastructure to those training and hiring specialty technicians to work on these vehicles,” Oliviera said.

“Innovation matters most at street level, where our crews are maintaining pipes and serving Portlanders directly,” Dhanapal said. “This electric truck cuts pollution in our neighborhoods and shows electric vehicles can meet the day-to-day needs of municipal operations.”