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Home My WebLink AboutFleet Purchasing Guidelines CITY OF PALM DESERT PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT REQUEST: Adopt Fleet Purchasing Guidelines SUBMITTED BY: Mark Greenwood, P.E. Director of Public Works DATE: December 13, 2007 CONTENTS: Chart of Current Fleet Vehicles by Fuel Type Fleet Purchasing Guidelines Recommendation: By Minute Motion, adopt fleet purchasing guidelines to maximize the use of alternative-fuel vehicles. Background: In an effort to reduce reliance on imported oil, to reduce vehicle emissions, and to comply with recent mandates regarding government fleets, the City desires to incorporate as many alternative-fuel vehicles (AFVs) into its fleet as possible. Prior to compiling a comprehensive report and proposing the attached fleet purchasing guidelines, Public Works Department staff conducted exhaustive research into the alternative-fuel vehicles available on the market today, which include CNG, propane, E85 (ethanol) and biodiesel. In addition, staff has gained considerable first-hand knowledge of the performance and maintenance requirements of different fuel types from our current fleet which consists of alternative fuels (60%), gasoline (35%) and diesel (5%). Finally, we toured and obtained data from the City of Santa Monica's fleet maintenance facility, which services vehicles powered by CNG, hydrogen, and biodiesel. Discussion: All-electric Several years ago, the City participated in a demonstration program using all-electric pickup trucks, with poor results. The vehicles were returned to the manufacturer prior to the planned end of the demonstration because of the many mechanical inefficiencies related to battery failure during the hot summer months. Staff Report Page 2 of 4 December 13, 2007 Pluq-in hvbrid Plug-in hybrids are an emerging technology which shows promise for fleet operations in urban areas. A Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) is essentially an electric vehicle with a gasoline engine backup. In addition to CNG, hydrogen, and biodiesel, the City of Santa Monica operates a small number of PHEVs for demonstration purposes. Given the poor performance of the all- electric trucks in our demonstration, it is unclear how well this type of vehicle would perform in the desert environment. Staff suggests that a PHEV would be a good candidate as a demonstration vehicle for use on a trial basis by the Office of Energy Management to assess its effectiveness and determine the best use for PHEVs in our fleet. Propane At least one vehicle manufacturer advertises the availability of propane-fueled pickup trucks. However, these vehicles have not been certified for use in California. Staff will continue to monitor the availability of this type of vehicle. E85 (Ethanol) E85 fuel is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Several vehicle manufacturers, including Ford and General Motors, sell a wide range of E85 vehicles. However, the E85 fuel has very limited availability in California at this time, with only four fueling stations. Due to the wide availability of vehicles, availability of this fuel is likely to expand in the future. Staff does not recommend E85 vehicles at this time; however, we will continue to monitor the situation. CNG Compressed natural gas is an efficient and clean fuel; the American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy ranked the Honda Civic GX as the "greenest" 2007 production vehicle. Another benefit of CNG is that it is produced in North America (the United States produces 85% and the remaining 15% is imported from Canada). We currently have three dedicated CNG Honda Civic GX vehicles in our fleet. These vehicles are equipped from the factory with dedicated CNG systems, and maintenance is available at the local Honda dealership by Honda- trained technicians. These original equipment manufacturer (OEM) CNG vehicles have performed well in our fleet. However, there are no OEM CNG pickup trucks on the market. Our fleet currently has 22 pickup trucks that were retrofitted with dedicated CNG systems. These vehicles have required more frequent maintenance than the typical gasoline- powered vehicles. The relative complexity and uncommon nature of CNG vehicles require more highly trained service technicians. The nearest maintenance facility where technicians are trained in this CNG system is located in Riverside. Transporting vehicles to and from Riverside is inefficient and expensive, and vehicles serviced at the facility are often returned to us with repairs performed in a way that does not meet our expectations. It is anticipated that technicians holding ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification possess the necessary skills and knowledge to maintain a diverse fleet. Yet, without an ASE Certified Senior Mechanic on staff we must continue to have these trucks serviced by a third party. Therefore, staff would not recommend the Staff Report Page 3 of 4 December 13, 2007 purchase of CNG retrofit trucks unless a position for an ASE Certified Senior Mechanic is approved. A "slow-fill" CNG fueling station has been installed at the Corporation Yard so that our dedicated CNG vehicles may be fueled overnight. The cost for this installation was less than $10,000. The City has an account with Burrtec Waste Industries to provide CNG fuel for the price of $1.29 per gallon, as well as a back-up account with SunLine Transit for $2.40 per gallon. Both the Burrtec and the SunLine Transit facilities provide fast-fill service, allowing vehicles to be fueled within minutes. As the City's use of CNG vehicles expands, it may be beneficial to build a CNG fast- fill station of our own. The estimate to install a "fast-fill" station, either at the Corporation Yard or here at the Civic Center (possibly located within the "charging station" at the San Pablo entrance to City Hall), is between $150,000 and $200,000. Our experience with CNG vehicles has shown a travel distance of approximately 150 miles before requiring refueling. CNG fueling stations are located sporadically throughout southern California; therefore, these vehicles are primarily used for local (valley) transportation only. HYbrid Hybrid vehicles that use both battery and gasoline are probably the most widely available AFVs on the market, with many manufacturers and many models to choose from. We have four Honda Civic hybrids that have performed well with normal maintenance. The drawback to the hybrid is that they do use gasoline; therefore, they are not as green as other AFVs; however, they can travel a farther distance without concern for fuel availability. Chevrolet/GMC manufactures a hybrid Silverado truck that could be a replacement option for the dedicated gasoline trucks in our fleet. A small hybrid SUV, such as the Saturn Outlook Green Line or the Ford Escape may be a reasonable alternative to the all-gasoline minivans in our current fleet. Biodiesel Another viable alternative to gasoline is biodiesel. Biodiesel is a fuel produced from organic feed sources such as corn and vegetable oil. In its pure form (B100) it is non-toxic and biodegradable. This fuel is one of the safest fuels to use, store and handle because it does not produce combustible vapors. Biodiesel offers greatly reduced emissions over diesel and gasoline. Biodiesel vehicles have been successfully integrated into the City of Santa Monica's alternative-fuel vehicle fleet. It has been reported that all diesel trucks manufactured after 1997 are capable of running on biodiesel without the requirement of system modifications. However, it has also been reported that vehicle manufacturers will not honor warrantees on vehicles that have used biodiesel fuel. This issue is being disputed in the courts by biodiesel users; therefore, transitioning the pickup truck fleet toward diesels utilizing biodiesel fuels should remain a serious option. The Corporation Yard has a diesel tank to fuel the diesel vehicles and equipment. A new biodiesel tank would be needed during the transition period while older vehicles remained in our fleet. A new tank for biodiesel is estimated to cost $35,000. It is Staff Report Page 4 of 4 December 13, 2007 recommended that biodiesel be phased in, starting with B20 (20% bio-fuel, 80% diesel) and progressing to 650 (50% bio-fuel, 50% diesel) and finally to 6100 (no petroleum diesel) over the course of several years, as the City of Santa Monica has successfully accomplished. Based on our exhaustive research regarding alte�native fuels, the types of vehicles available, and the current and future needs of the City, the attached purchasing guidelines have been developed for fleet vehicles and equipment. Department e d: Mark Gree wood, P.E. Director of Public Works Approval• Homer Croy Paul Gibson ACM for Devel ent Services Finance Director Carlos L. Orte City Manager �I� C�C�v�IOi�: APPRdVED ��,J� RECE IVED OT'r;ER /dhl „ N'�ETING DATE - � '"" A.YE S: "'°'- NOE�: ,.. �r� ) LL ��,----�--�--o-.�.�...��.,.d.__� tiL7 S a'�.r CY�.':,��r�J "a'�e-.. J�BSTAIN• � _.---c.- JERIFTED BY• �ri.ginal on File wi City Clerk' s Ofii�E * Approved the reco�endation with further direction to collaborate with Coachella Valley cities in this process. 4-0 (Finerty ABSENT) CITY OF PALM DESERT FLEET PURCHASING GUIDELINES It is the intent of the City of Palm Desert to purchase alternative-fuel vehicles whenever possible. It must be understood that this policy does not restrict the choice of vehicles other than to require alternative fuels for all vehicles. Because this is an area of growing technology, the focus should not be on any one type of vehicle or equipment, but rather to utilize all technologies available, when and where appropriate. Available models include, but are not limited to, those listed. Available models are listed in order of preference, below: CARS/SEDANS 1. CNG — Factory installed only (no third party retrofitters) 100%factory warranty and support - Honda Civic GX (dedicated CNG) 2. Hybrid - Honda Accord - Honda Civic - Honda Insight - Nissan Altima - Saturn Aura Green Line - Toyota Prius 3. Plug-In Hybrid (�ecommended in small quantities for demonstration purposes only) - Toyota Prius PICK-UP TRUCKS 1. Diesel—(biodiesel compatible) - GMC Sierra - Chevrolet Silverado - Dodge Ram - Ford F-250 2. Hybrid - GMC Sierra - Chevrolet Silverado Fleet Purchasing Guidelines Page 1 3. Dedicated CNG retrofit (only if ASE Certified Senior Mechanic on city staff for in-house repairs) - G M C Sierra - Chevrolet Silverado - Ford F150 - G M C Sierra VANS /SUV 1. Hybrid - Ford Escape - Saturn VUE - Saturn Outlook (6-passenger with a 3�d row seat) - Mercury Mariner HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT 1. Diesel —(biodiesel compatible) 2. CNG Fleet Purchasing Guidelines Page 2