The San Diego County, Calif., Board of Supervisors has approved a plan to have 250 electric vehicles (EVs) in service by 2025.  Fleet staff also determined that 251 additional vehicles could be converted to EVs by fiscal-year 2026-27, bringing the total EVs to 501. Through this fleet conversion, the county hopes to reduce fleet emissions by 10% below 2014 levels by 2020 and 20% by 2030.

To reach its goals, the county would need to amend its policy to require departments to purchase EVs when charging is available and if EVs align with vehicle use. To reach its goal of having 250 EVs by 2025, it will cost the county $7.95 million in one-time costs and $148,000 in ongoing costs in hiring a full-time staff member to manage the fleet conversion. To add 251 more EVs, it would cost $13.14 million in one-time costs.

By 2025, fleet management also plans to update its goals to reflect medium- and heavy-duty fleet goals and explore additional light-duty fleet conversions.

Staff members will monitor potential grant funding sources to decrease the estimated costs of adding EVs.

Currently, the fleet consists of more than 4,500 vehicles. These include light-duty vehicles (59%), patrol vehicles (14%), buses and medium-duty vehicles (9%) and heavy-duty vehicles (18%). Of these, 40 are EVs, and an additional 10 EVs have been ordered, allowing the county to meet its goal of 50 EVs by 2020. The county has 84 charging stations at eight sites for its own fleet, and an additional 37 stations are located at county-owned sites that are open to employees and the public.