Ann Arbor is now one of 127 cities that have committed to collectively buy upwards of 2,100 electric vehicles by the end of 2020 as part of the Climate Mayors Electric Vehicle Purchasing Collaborative.
"The collaborative is an opportunity to learn from peers around the nation about their electrification journey while also sharing our experiences," says Missy Stults, Ann Arbor’s sustainability and innovations manager. "Additionally, there’s the opportunity to group our demand and buy electric vehicles together."
Ann Arbor has had a plan to transform the city’s municipal fleet for several years. The city's goal is a 25 percent reduction in fleet-related emissions by 2025 – part and parcel of its plan to power municipal operations with 100 percent clean and renewable energy by 2035.
The city currently has three electric vehicles in use and it intends to buy at least 13 more in the coming year. The exact vehicles acquired will depend on market conditions.
"We’re starting with light-duty vehicles because we have far more electric vehicle options on the market. This includes vehicles in the city’s carpool, as well as vehicles used by community standards officers and at our water treatment plant," Stults says.
She says the city will continue to monitor the market for green options for garbage trucks and emergency vehicles.
The new partnership promises to make the process easier.
"Being a part of the collaborative helps keeps us connected to what’s happening within the market and what’s possible within cities. This knowledge can then be directly applied to the city’s purchasing decisions," Stults says.
Jaishree Drepaul-Bruder is a freelance writer and editor currently based in Ann Arbor. She can be reached at jaishreeedit@gmail.com.
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