Electric van included in replacement of City of Vernon fleet vehicles

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These items would be purchased through the city’s Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Reserve for December 2021, which has a balance of $1,252,365.

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The city said all the vehicles being replaced have reached the end of their life cycle.

As there is a global semi-conductor shortage, delays are expected in the completion and delivery of vehicle and equipment orders, and the city may receive some of these vehicles well into 2023, which could result in higher costs.

Council agreed to grant approval for the purchasing of the vehicles so the procurement process could begin immediately and reduce the risk of further delays.

While that motion passed unanimously, another topic regarding vehicle replacements required more discussion in the council chamber.

The debate began when city council was presented with an option to replace a pick-up truck that was at the end of it’s life cycle with an electric service vehicle.

Administration told council that the staff member who used the 2007 Ford Ranger pick-up had indicated that a van would better suit the needs of the user, which is a utility department electrician. Administration had been planning on replacing the truck with an electric car or SUV already, and were then tasked with evaluating the option of buying an electric van over a gas powered van.

City staff found that an electric transit van would cost approximately $82,00, as opposed to the $58,000 needed for the purchase of a gasoline service van. However, after evaluating the associated costs of running the vehicles for the 10-year life cycle under the city’s Fleet Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Strategy, they found that the cost of maintaining and fueling a gas van would be an estimated $108,000, as opposed to the $120,000 needed to maintain and power the electric van over that period of time.

During Tuesday’s meeting, councillors Scott Anderson and Kari Gares both expressed the need for moving to clean energy but also voiced concern with the warranty and life span of an electric vehicle battery, which are typically between 8 and 10 years, and the cost to taxpayers should it need replacing. However, staff assured the councillors that the expected life of the electric van would be 10 years and it will not need a replacement battery.

Staff also noted that the electric vehicle would reduce fuel consumption by an estimated 16,800 litres, equivalent to 38,640 kilograms of CO2 emissions over a 10-year period. This makes the purchase in line with the city’s Climate Action Revolving Fund Policy, which notes that the city’s greenhouse gas emissions largely are a result from its vehicle fleet, second only to recreation infrastructure.

After further discussion, Gares and Anderson both agreed that the move to electric vehicles and clean energy is important, and they voted with the rest of the council in favour of purchasing the vehicle.

This electric van will be funded with $40,000 from the Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Reserve and $42,000 from the Climate Action Revolving Fund, which has a balance of $1,199,601.

The electric van will join three electric cars, one electric utility terrain vehicle and six electric bicycles already in the city’s fleet.