Hamilton looks to electrify city fleet. Step one, swap out 89 gas-guzzlers over three years
The city is eyeing climate-friendly electric replacements for dozens of cars and trucks in its fleet over three years.
The public works committee will consider a green fleet strategy" Monday for the city's 1,395 gas-guzzling cars, trucks, plows and other maintenance equipment. (That number excludes buses and emergency vehicles.)
Combined, those municipal fleet vehicles pump out an estimated 9,371 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year.
The strategy suggests 30 climate-focused actions the city can take to cut corporate vehicle emissions over time, including experimenting with cleaner biofuels, improving anti-idling policies and driver training.
But electric vehicles offer the largest impact" in cutting emissions, says a staff report going to councillors Monday.
To start, city staff recommend swapping 89 gas-powered cars, half-tonne pickup trucks and vans with electric equivalents by 2024, which would help cut annual fleet greenhouse emissions by 18 per cent.
Council still needs to debate and vote on the recommendation, which could cost up to $2.2 million more than equivalent gas-fuelled vehicle replacements.
Going electric would be a meaningful commitment" by the city after its declaration of a climate emergency, said Bianca Caramento, the manager of the Bay Area Climate Change Council.
Caramento, who plans to delegate to the committee in support of the plan, noted transportation accounts for about 17 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in total for Hamilton and Burlington.
Following all of the strategy's long-term recommendations through 2035 would cut city fleet emissions by up to 90 per cent - something Caramento said the council will advocate for on Monday.
The city report notes plenty of work needs to be done over time to meet the aspirational goals set out in the Bay Area Climate Change Summit, which called for all vehicles to be electrified by 2050.
The city has already begun experimenting with electric vehicles on a smaller scale, with two battery-powered licensing vehicles added last year and 14 electric vehicles - including two ice-cleaning Zambonis - approved in the 2021 budget.
The HSR has also tested electric bus loaners in recent years and is setting aside space and charging infrastructure for up to 100 battery-powered buses in a planned new storage facility in the lower city.
The city's biggest would-be electrification project - the contentious on-again, off-again light rail transit line planned for the Main-King corridor - will be discussed at a separate meeting Wednesday.
If council decides to fast-track fleet electrification, it would have to commit to adding new charging stations, too. The report going to public works suggests some of those capital costs could be offset by government grants.
It also estimates $1 million-plus in lifetime savings because of declining fuel and maintenance needs.
Matthew Van Dongen is a Hamilton-based reporter covering transportation for The Spectator. Reach him via email: mvandongen@thespec.com
Green fleet strategy: highlights
- Plan for replacement of 89 gas-powered cars, pickup trucks and vans with EVs by 2024;
- Install new electric charging infrastructure across the city;
- Start pilot project using 20 per cent blend of biodiesel in existing vehicles;
- Provide eco-training" to drivers of city vehicles;
- Provide anti-idling training and awareness campaign.