Related: Madison to Build $32.8M Consolidated Fleet Facility
Wis. City to Buy Grant-Funded EVs
The City of Madison, Wis., projects that buying 20 plug-in electric vehicles will save the city in fuel and maintenance costs as well as reduce emissions.

Madison is purchasing 20 Bolt electric cars.
Photo courtesy of GM
The City of Madison, Wis., will invest in 20 electric vehicles (EVs) partially funded by a state grant, The Badger Herald reported.
The city requested $129,300 in grants to cover the incremental cost of purchasing 20 plug-in EVs (Chevrolet Bolts) to replace aging sedans. The grant application stated that the city expects savings of $174,000 in fuel costs and $130,000 in maintenance costs over the 10-year life of the EVs. Even without grant funding, the city expects to recover the higher upfront cost of the EVs in 4.24 years.
The prices of gasoline, diesel, and biodiesel have been increasing, “causing a significant negative impact to the Fleet Service operating budget,” city staffers wrote on the application. “The grant would reduce the city’s dependence on the fluctuating fossil fuel market and offset some of its budget implications.”
The vehicles will also help the city comply with its goal of transitioning to 100% renewable energy. Transitioning 20 sedans to renewable fuels will save 90,000 gallons of gasoline over 10 years and prevent the emission 1,200 tons of greenhouse gases.
Madison Gas & Electric will contribute $10,000 to cover the cost of Level 2 chargers for the city’s EVs. The Badger Herald reported that city gets the majority of its energy from MGE, which has purchased a wind farm and has conducted a solar pilot project.
More Green Fleet

Sustainability Partners, Energy Systems Group Help Albuquerque Close the Gap on its 100% Renewable Energy Goal
The eight-site, 6 MW solar project has advanced the city toward 100% renewable energy for municipal operations.
Read More →
Port Authority and CALSTART Launch $45 Million Electric Truck and Charging Programs
The programs aim to boost sustainable operations across the East Coast's busiest seaport.
Read More →
Moving Government Fleets Beyond the Vehicle Purchase: EV as a Service
A discussion on how EVaaS is moving beyond pilot programs and what fleets should consider before beginning a larger deployment.
Read More →
Moving Government Fleets Beyond the Vehicle Purchase: EV as a Service
As fleets move beyond small EV pilots, Sustainability Partners CEO Adam Cain explains how EVaaS can address the infrastructure and long-term planning required for larger deployments.
Read More →
Peterbilt Expands Sourcewell Partnership with Electric Vehicle Lineup
The agreement aims to provide streamlined procurement of Peterbilt trucks for government, education, nonprofit and tribal organizations across the United States and Canada.
Read More →
EV Adoption & Charging Challenges
Where is your fleet in the journey of vehicle electrification? If you're still looking for answers to fleet electrification you've come to the right place.
Read More →
Hawaii Passes Clean Fuel Policy
Hawaii lawmakers passed clean fuel legislation that could support renewable natural gas production, biogas-powered transportation, and lower-carbon fueling options for public and commercial fleets.
Read More →Are You Tracking Your Fleet's True Total Cost of Ownership?
Bobit Business Media surveyed 190 fleet professionals and found that while most fleets are tracking costs, fragmented systems and data gaps are keeping true TCO visibility out of reach. With rising pressure to control spend in an increasingly volatile environment, the gap between what fleets think they know and what the data actually shows is wider than you might expect. See how your peers are managing costs today and where the industry still has room to improve.
Read More →
Stanislaus County Deploys Ten Beam Global EV ARC Systems to Support County Fleet Electrification
Stanislaus County deployed 10 off-grid solar-powered EV charging systems and a mobile charging trailer from Beam Global to support its electric fleet operations and emergency response flexibility.
Read More →


