Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 5.D
Meeting Date: March 26, 2025
From: John A. Corella Director of Public Works
Title: Purchase of Three (3) 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV 2WT Trucks for the Facilities Division, Public Works Maintenance, and Environmental Division.
RECOMMENDATION:
To authorize the purchase of three (3) 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV 2WT trucks for the Facilities, Public Works Maintenance, and Environmental Divisions, respectively, at a total cost of $194,655.69; and authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute all required documents for purchase.
BACKGROUND:
In the past three years, after the COVID pandemic, the city’s departments were restaffed and bolstered to be able to service the needs of the city’s continued growth and expansion.
The Public Works Maintenance and Environmental Divisions of the Public Works Department and the Facilities Division of the Financial Services Department specifically added personnel as part of this approved and budgeted bolstering process. With these personnel additions and the efficiencies learned during COVID, three work pick-up trucks are necessary to support the above-cited respective divisions’ daily work needs. The trucks proposed to be purchased are electric vehicles vs. the past traditional diesel or gasoline-powered vehicles.
Environmental Benefits
Electric vehicles vs internal combustion vehicles are a necessary component in the city’s effort to reduce its carbon footprint. Efforts for these conversions of the city’s rolling stock comply with mandated state requirements and move the city in the direction of meeting current statewide goals for a cleaner environment. By replacing traditional diesel-powered trucks with electric models, the city will significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduce air pollution, and help improve the quality of air in our community. Placing electric vehicles in service as part of the city’s fleet component aligns with the city’s broader sustainability initiatives and demonstrates Cathedral City’s commitment to a greener future.
Cost Savings
The purchase price of an electric truck is lower than the purchase price of a diesel truck by 9.6% and gasoline-powered truck by 9.8%.
Electric trucks have fewer moving parts than the internal combustion engine vehicles, reducing maintenance needs and associated costs. The cost of electricity is also generally lower than diesel or gasoline fuel, further driving savings over time. Electric trucks are more energy-efficient than their diesel and gasoline counterparts, which reduces fuel expenses.
By purchasing electric trucks, the City of Cathedral City will lead by example with the adoption of cleaner and more sustainable technologies and will gain financial and operational benefits.
DISCUSSION:
Staff is recommending the purchase of three (3) 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV 2WT Trucks for the Facilities Division, Public Works Maintenance, and Environmental Division.
Fleet obtained quotes from the following vendors:
Name of Company Price Model Miles Per
Charge
Availability
Jessup Chevrolet
Cathedral City
$61,340.31 2WT EV
Truck
280 May 1, 2025
Quality Chevrolet
Escondido
$61,340.31 2WT EV
Truck
280 May 1, 2025
Palm Springs Motors
Cathedral City
$74,749.62 F-150 Lighting 220 6-8 Months from
ordering date
All quotes submitted included tax, delivery charges and rebates.
During the evaluation process, staff’s comparison of the Chevrolet 2WT pickup truck versus the Ford pickup truck, found that the Chevrolet Silverado truck achieves 280 miles per charge while the Ford Lightning achieves 220 miles per charge. The Ford truck would also require ordering with a 6-to-8-month delay on delivery. The Chevrolet EV trucks will be available in the first quarter of 2025.
After the evaluation of the electric truck proposals, staff are requesting purchase of all three vehicles locally from Jessup Chevrolet at $61,340.31 per truck.
The recommended vehicle destinations will service the following:
Truck 1: Facilities Division - vehicle will be used to support the division’s hiring of new staff.
Truck 2: Public Works Maintenance - vehicle will be used for the division’s hiring of new staff.
Truck 3: Public Works Environmental - vehicle will be used by the Environmental staff in their day-to-day work duties. This truck can also be shared within the Public Works Maintenance Department, when needed.
Emergency Safety Lighting
In addition to the purchase of the EV trucks, staff is requesting funds for the purchase and installation of emergency/safety lighting and city decals in the amount of $10,634,796.
Below is a summary of all costs:
EV Truck User 2025 Vehicle
Cost
Decals & Emergency
Lighting Install
Total cost
per truck
Facilities $ 61,340.31 $ 3,544.92 $ 64,606.33
Public Works Maintenance $ 61,340.31 $ 3,544.92 $ 64,606.33 Public Works Environmental $ 61,340.31 $ 3,544.92 $ 64,606.33 Total Cost $184,020.93 $10,634.76 $194,655.69
The total cost of the three (3) new electric trucks and aftermarket safety outfitting will be $194,655.69.
Charging Stations
Jessup Chevrolet also included three (3) Level 2 chargers with the purchase of the trucks, at no additional cost. A Level 2 charger typically takes 4-8 hours to fully charge an electric vehicle from zero, making it suitable for overnight charging or charging at work during the day. Depending on the charger’s power output and the vehicle’s battery size, the charging time can vary slightly.
Staff are proposing to install two (2) of the charging stations at the Public Works Maintenance Yard on Kieley Road and the third inside the Facilities storage area located directly behind city hall. The installation cost to install the three (3) EV charging stations will cost less than $5,000 and will be paid from the Environmental Conservation maintenance and operations budget (246-900-910-911-8300-8301). The three (3) Level 2 EV charging stations provided by Jessup will only be accessible for city vehicles and will not be available to the general public.
Staff are requesting the City Council authorize the purchase of three (3) 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV 2WT trucks for the Facilities, Public Works Maintenance, and the Environmental Divisions, respectively, at a total cost of $194,655.69; and authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute all required documents for the purchase.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The purchase of alternative-use vehicles assists in the city's overall compliance with South Coast Air Quality Fleet rules and complies with the city’s environmental goals to reduce air admissions. Staff are proposing to allocate 246 environmental funds to be transferred to the Equipment Replacement Fund (611) for the purchase of the city's first 100% electric vehicles.
DESCRIPTION GENERAL
LEDGER
ACCOUNT
CODES
PROJECT
CODE
AMOUNT ONE TIME or
ONGOING
2024-2025 Purchase (3) 2025 611-000-000- N/A $194,655.69 One-Time Chevrolet Silverado
2WT EV Trucks 000-8800-8807
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
GOAL B: Community Investment
Objective: Cathedral City roads, gateways, public spaces, and other city infrastructure are well planned, designed, constructed, and maintained
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 2025 2WT Chevrolet EV Silverado Purchase Proposal