Right-size/down-size the city fleet with the most fuel-efficient vehicles that are of an optimal size and capacity for their intended functions.
Best Practice of this action
Rating Guideline
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Survey each fleet vehicle by type, MPG and use; implement at least one right-size or down-size improvement (for example, use of a sedan instead of a pick-up truck for inspection work, introduce a hybrid police interceptor, use of a full electric utility vehicle in parks/public works, or one multi-purpose vehicle instead of two vehicles); lease vehicles when financially and environmentally advised. |
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Adopt a vehicle purchasing policy/practice; right-size all vehicles in one portion of the city's fleet (for example, police, fire, public works, inspections) AND report any vehicle reductions and improvement in the fleet's average MPG. |
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Right-size all vehicles in the city's fleet AND report vehicle reductions and improvement in the fleet's average MPG. |
Resources
Fleet Analysis/Survey:
- Check with your local electric utility for any programs that can help you analyze fleet vehicles.
- Through the Cities Charging Ahead effort, the Minnesota cities of Bloomington, Faribault, Fridley, Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, St. Louis Park, White Bear Lake, Winona, and Woodbury completed fleet studies funded by Xcel Energy, and Coon Rapids completed a fleet study funded by Connexus Energy. Each city worked with a company called FleetCarma to install telematics devices in chosen fleet vehicles and analyze that data. The telematics devices tracked various vehicle usage statistics, including idle time, acceleration patterns, and daily miles of any given vehicle equipped with a device. See what lessons the cities learned (GPI/CERTs, 2021).
- The Dashboard for Rapid Vehicle Electrification (DRVE) is a free tool that equips users with decision-relevant information on the financial viability and environmental impact of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicle fleet procurements across an entire fleet. The Microsoft Excel-based tool can evaluate a variety of procurement ownership structures, vehicle types, electric vehicle charging configurations, and many more scenarios.
Right-sizing:
- Right-sizing might, for example, include purchase through Minnesota's Cooperative Purchasing Venture of neighborhood electric utility vehicles (NEVs) built by E-Ride in Princeton, MN. NEVs are battery electric vehicles with a top speed of 25 MPH and which can be driven on public roads.
- Resources and background on emergency response and narrower street design, rethinking the size of fire trucks, and the latest data on saving lives by means of evidence-based good street design.
Green Fleet Policy:
- See, for example, the City of Minneapolis green fleet policy.
- The State of MN advises purchasing/leasing vehicles with a GHG rating of 7 or higher.
Green Fleet Purchasing:
- See the 2023 Fuel Economy Guide for current ratings.
- Use the Consumer Reports guides to the Best & Worst Fuel Economy for Cars, SUVs, and Trucks.
- The U.S. Dept. of Energy's Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center has cost calculators and other tools.
- Find EV buying guides at the Drive Electric MN website.
- How Cities and How Cities and Counties Can Electrify Their Fleets (RMI, 2023) provides local governments with insights on how to begin or advance their electrification efforts through policy/processes and technical/financial considerations.
Order Number
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