Polk County, Iowa, has begun introducing electric vehicles to replace the existing county fleet. The county has recently taken possession of the first three electric vans, marking the beginning of a comprehensive transition process that will see the majority of the county's fleet, totaling more than 300 vehicles, being replaced with electric vehicles.

The replacement vehicles will include Ford E-Transit vans and Chevy Bolts, which are capable of traveling an average of 250 miles per charge, according to the county. This transition to electric vehicles is aimed at not only reducing the county's carbon footprint but provide savings on fuel and maintenance costs.

The county plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Polk County operations by 90% of the current levels by 2040, according to Polk County Administrator John Norris. 

Embracing Cutting-Edge Technology and Innovative Solutions

As the lifespan of existing fleet vehicles expires, most will be replaced with EV models. Some exceptions would apply due to the technical requirements of a vehicle used by law enforcement or public works as an example. 

Other efforts to meet Polk County’s emission reduction goal by 2040 includes installing solar panels on many of our county buildings, converting our HVAC systems to electric, adding electric charging stations and transitioning to 100% LED lighting solutions in county buildings.