St. Louis Prioritizes Fleet Transition to Electric Vehicles

St. Louis, Missouri Mayor Lyda Krewson unveiled the city’s newest 100% electric vehicles (EVs) and signed a new executive order that begins the transition toward municipal fleet electrification on Feb. 25.

The four new EVs are zero-emission, 100% battery-electric 2021 Chevrolet Bolts. They will be used by the Department of Health, the City Mail Room, the Board of Public Service (BPS), and the Comptroller’s Office. Each EV is wrapped with specially designed environmental messaging featuring the seal of the City of St. Louis on the hood and side doors. The city has several EVs already in service at St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

The cost of the new vehicles and their associated charging equipment are being paid for with a portion of the roughly $423,000 the city was awarded through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Volkswagen Trust funds. There is no cost to the city’s capital budget. The city plans to acquire at least eight electric vehicles and 10 dual port EV charging stations with VW Trust funds in the coming months.

To capitalize on growing efficiencies and anticipated savings to taxpayers, Mayor Krewson also issued Executive Order 68, “Priority Procurement of Clean Municipal Vehicles," which cements the practice of adding more clean vehicles to the city’s fleet.

Effective immediately, city departments, divisions, and agencies will be directed to prioritize the purchase of low- and no-emission vehicles over comparable internal combustion engine vehicles powered by conventional fuels where cost-effective. Executive Order also directs the Board of Public Service to deploy and manage electric vehicle charging stations and related infrastructure where fleet vehicles are most frequently parked as determined by vehicle mileage and telematics data.

Originally posted on Government Fleet