City Fleet Goes Green by Going Electric!
May 13
Fleet Staff Unveil Truck Converted to All-Electric - Employees from the City of Tallahassee's Fleet Management Department today unveiled a 1994 Ford Ranger pickup truck they completely converted to an all-electric vehicle. The 'green' vehicle, literally and figuratively, was displayed at a media event held in front of City Hall. City Commissioner Debbie Lightsey appeared at the event, noting the conversion program is a perfect fit with the City's "Go Green Tallahassee" initiative.
The pickup truck (PDF) was due for replacement, following 15 years of wear and tear and increased maintenance costs. As part of the City's comprehensive green initiative and in keeping with their own environmentally responsible practices and policies, Fleet Management employees engaged in hands-on training to convert the standard combustion-engine pickup to one powered entirely by electricity. Fleet staff did the job so well that an additional half-dozen older vehicles will be converted to all-electric.
The 'final' product results in a pickup with a substantially reduced carbon footprint over similar gasoline-powered trucks. This vehicle even has less of a footprint than a Toyota Prius hybrid car! It has a driving range of approximately 60 miles, and then be completely recharged (using a standard electric outlet!) in approximately 10 hours. And the all-electric truck has an equivalent gasoline gallons mileage rating of 100 miles per gallon - versus 17 miles per gallon in its old life as a gasoline-powered truck. Details are available in the attached document.
The City's Fleet Management Department operates an automotive maintenance and repair facility that services an array of City-owned vehicles. The facility has been operating for approximately 30 years and currently services up to 700 vehicles per month, including fire trucks, police cars, tractors, backhoes, garbage trucks and light utility trucks.
Go Green Tallahassee was developed by the City of Tallahassee as an initiative to promote and encourage environmental responsibility in our community. The comprehensive initiative ranges from expanding the residential recycling program, installing energy-efficient measures in all City facilities, promoting mass transit; Fleet Management's biodiesel fuel production facility; and the Tram Road Reuse Facility which provides reclaimed water for public irrigation. The initiative's umbrella also includes a variety of energy-efficiency programs for City utility customers and incentives allowing customers to save energy, save water and save money through the Energy Smart Plus (e+) program.
For more information on the City's green initiative, visit Talgov.com and click on the "Go Green Tallahassee" link.
Contact
Cynthia Barber, Environmental Policy & Energy Resources, 891-8340; Terry Lowe, Fleet Management, 891-5225; or Bill Behenna, Communications Department, 891-8533
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