Port Moody faces an incremental cost of $2.79 million to electrify at least 40 per cent of the passenger vehicles in its fleet and 25 per cent of its commercial vehicles by 2030.
According to a report prepared for the city by Innotech Fleet Strategies, that would put Port Moody on the path to attaining its climate action goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent over the next six years and total carbon neutrality by 2050.
The cost estimate includes more than $900,000 for the installation of charging infrastructure at locations like city hall, the works yard, recreation complex, Inlet fire hall and the police station.
But, the report added, federal and provincial incentive programs currently available could offset up to 75 per cent of the electrification cost, although there’s no guarantee how long such programs will remain available.
Currently, the consultant’s report said, Port Moody’s fleet consists of 152 vehicles for the city’s police, fire, engineering and operations, community services and administration departments.
In 2021, they consumed about 150,000 litres of gasoline and 160,000 litres of diesel, and generated more than 740,000 kg of greenhouse gases. That’s about 35 per cent of the city’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
Electrifying the city’s fleet “forms an important piece of the city’s carbon-reduction plan,” said the report.
To achieve its emission targets, Port Moody should begin installing infrastructure to charge and maintain electric vehicles this year, the report said, so the electrification of its fleet can begin in earnest in 2025.
Of the four electric vehicles the city already has in operation, two are Zambonis, one is a small, low-speed vehicle used in parks and the other is a Ford Focus used by office staff.
“While these vehicles have provided the city with some insight into EV use… it’s a very small sample size,” the report said.
