Lightning Takes EV Goals Over the Top

Fleet Services celebrated the delivery of a new Ford F-150 Lightning recently. The pickup truck symbolized a milestone in the Electric Vehicle Roadmap – the 250th electric vehicle to join the County fleet.

The roadmap called for converting 250 gas-powered vehicles to EVs by the end of 2025. The year was only eight days old when the Lightning came in, prompting a flurry of celebratory photos at General Services.  

Public Works drove the Lightning off the Kearny Mesa lot. In fact, compared with other departments, Public Works is the second highest buyer of EVs, with 41. Of all the groups, Land Use and Environment drives the most EVs, more than 70.

The County’s EV fleet features battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. They include additional Ford Lightnings, Ford Escapes, Chrysler Pacifica vans, Toyota RAV 4s, Jeeps and more.

Fleet’s Departmental Operations Chief David Fernandez says 16 departments helped Fleet meet the goal. To encourage buy in, Fernandez tells prospective buyers about the advantages.

Light-duty EVs like sedans, smaller SUVs, minivans and small trucks are cheaper to maintain than conventional vehicles and manufacturer warranties are just as long. More importantly, EVs protect the environment.  

“We need to be thoughtful about the way we use our vehicles and consider their impact on air quality,” said Fernandez. “If we can reduce emissions to make air quality better, then that’s what we’re going to do.”

Now fleet is striving for its second EV Roadmap goal; place 501 EVs in service by 2027. That would be more than double the current EV numbers in just two years.

But Fernandez is confident. Two additional EVs have already come in and he says 90 others are on order and should arrive this summer. In other words, he says we’re right on track.