Mayor Michael Bloomberg (News - Alert) announced on July 13 that New York City’s Finest are acquiring the finest in electric vehicles. The city is purchasing 50 Chevrolet Volts, 10 fully electric Ford Transit Connect cargo vans, and 10 fully electric Navistar E-star utility trucks for its municipal fleet.
The city already boasts the largest municipal hybrid and electric fleet in the country—now totaling 430 vehicles with the infusion of the 70 new EVs.
General Motors (News - Alert) Co. says the extended-range Volt will be the first EV ever used as a patrol car by NYPD. For the initial 35 miles, the Volt can drive gas- and tailpipe emissions-free using a full charge of electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas-powered engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 344 miles on a full tank for a total driving range of 379 miles.
In April 2009, the NYPD deployed 76 Nissan Altima hybrids as the first alternative fuel vehicles to be used as marked patrol cars in the department’s fleet of approximately 3,000 vehicles. After receiving positive response from the force, in late 2010, the department acquired 102 Ford Fusion Hybrid alternative fuel vehicles for use on the streets. It also has a variety of electric scooters and golf carts. The traditional patrol car is the Ford Crown Victoria sedan.
The Mayor made the announcement at the Department of Sanitation, where he was joined by Department of Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty; representatives from the New York Power Authority; the Environmental Defense Fund; the Sierra Club; Azure Dynamics, a partner of Ford Motor Company; General Motors; Navistar International Corporation; and Coulomb Technologies Inc., the manufacturers of the public electric vehicle charging stations available in the city.
“This is the latest and largest-ever addition of electric vehicles to the City’s fleet, which is already the largest municipal clean-air vehicle fleet in the nation,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “We will continue to lead by example, but we also must provide New Yorkers with tools to make environmentally friendly choices in their own lives. When provided with the facts, people become far more likely to choose an electric vehicle. Our job is to ensure the public has the facts, ensure they can make their own decisions and ensure that if they want to drive an electric vehicle, we are providing the infrastructure needed. It’s all part of our PlaNYC agenda to create a greener, greater New York City.”
“This largest-ever increase in the City’s electric-powered vehicle fleet is not only good for the environment, it’s good for City taxpayers too,” said Deputy Mayor Goldsmith. “Using electric vehicles reduces air pollution and carbon emissions while also lowering gasoline consumption – a fact that will translate into significant life-cycle savings per vehicle for the City. Today’s announcement illustrates New York City’s ongoing commitment to staying at the forefront of U.S. cities in our use of electric vehicles, and marks another milestone in achieving the sustainability goals set out in PlaNYC.”
“I’m very proud that DCAS [the Department of Citywide Administrative Services] enabled acquisition of these 70 vehicles by coordinating grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and the New York Power Authority,” said Commissioner Edna Wells Handy. “While New York City is already a leader in this area, boasting the largest clean-fuel municipal fleet in the country – emissions from these 70 electric vehicles are 75 percent cleaner than internal combustion engine vehicles.”
The City’s electric vehicle program is made possible due to a partnership with the New York State Power Authority and funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation—each of which helped fund a portion of the cost differential between the purchase of an electric vehicle and gas-powered vehicle – as well as the U.S. Department of Energy, which provided a grant to the charger manufacturer Coulomb to provide the public charging stations installed throughout the city.
A survey by McKinsey & Company (News - Alert) for the City showed a lack of consumer information and lack of educational resources on electric vehicles. Only 30 percent of New Yorkers are knowledgeable about the specific benefits and limitations of electric vehicles. Providing basic information on electric vehicles dramatically increases interest in the vehicles – the study showed 21 percent of consumers were more likely to purchase an electric vehicle after being educated about the facts on the vehicles.
The City’s electric vehicle information site, Drive Electric NYC, provides users with the primary facts about electric cars. The site also includes a map of public charging stations in the city, a cost calculator link to help potential owners understand the total cost of an electric vehicle versus a conventional vehicle – including fuel costs – and describes environmental benefits of EVs.
The City is also collaborating with the cities of Boston and Philadelphia as part of the Northeast Regional Electric Vehicle Partnership to improve conditions for electric vehicles and alleviate barriers to early electric vehicle adoption through low-cost, high-impact actions.
In addition to NYPD, other New York City agencies will have a chance to try the EVs, including the Departments of Citywide Administrative Services, Correction, Environmental Protection, Parks and Recreation, Sanitation, Transportation; and the New York City Fire Department, as well as the Taxi and Limousine Commission. The FDNY and NYPD initially will use the vehicles for non-emergency duties, including use by NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agents.
The Mayor’s Office released the following facts on EV and HEV use in New York City:
- Based on current power generation, electric vehicle use is responsible for emitting approximately one-quarter of the carbon dioxide associated with the use of the average car in New York City.
- Transportation contributes 20 percent of the city’s CO2 emissions and is the biggest single source after buildings.
- EVs do not generate tailpipe emissions such as nitrogen oxide or particulates (both of which contribute to respiratory illness) and emit practically no engine heat— reducing the sweltering heat on busy corridors.
- Electricity prices have risen more slowly and are traditionally more stable than oil prices, so consumers with EVs will be impacted less by power price fluctuations.
- The range of an electric vehicle far exceeds the average American’s daily-miles-traveled and EVs have an emergency mode to warn the driver of low power, providing enough energy to get off the road.
- By the most optimistic estimates, electric vehicles will represent 0.6 percent of total energy consumption by 2015. If 70 percent of all electric vehicles plugged in at the same time during the peak period, it would increase demand by less than 2 percent.
For more information, visit the City of New York Office of the Mayor website.
Cheryl Kaften is an accomplished communicator who has written for consumer and corporate audiences. She has worked extensively for MasterCard (News - Alert) Worldwide, Philip Morris USA (Altria), and KPMG, and has consulted for Estee Lauder and the Philadelphia Inquirer Newspapers. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Rich Steeves
