August 21, 2023
San Rafael City Council
1400 Fifth Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
RE: Fleet Replacement FY 2023-24 (item 4.j.)
Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers,
Sustainable San Rafael believes that it is imperative for the City to quickly transition its fleet to electric vehicles in order to meet City, County, and State climate goals, both reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving local air quality.
Globally, we are experiencing the hottest summer on record, which serves as a reminder to stay focused on taking the most impactful climate actions as speedily as possible, like switching from gas to electric vehicles. In this regard the City’s fleet can serve as a role model for its citizens.
We realize that fully electric fire trucks and street sweepers may not yet be available, but we urge you to consider electric options for the following police vehicles. When considering the initial cost of vehicles, please factor in the myriad federal and state incentives available to the City for EVs. Please also consider the total cost of ownership over the lifetime of the vehicle, which can be reduced as much as $5,000 - $9,000 due to the low cost of fueling and maintaining EVs. • In lieu of a Ford F150 Specialty Hybrid $50,000 246-13 (special service vehicle) - Consider a Ford F150 Lightning. (See similar Contra Costa County vehicle below.)
• In lieu of a Ford Police Interceptor Utility $82,000 246-13 (patrol car) - Consider a Tesla Model Y. (See Fremont Police Department patrol car below.)
• In lieu of the 2 Ford Hybrid/Equivalent $48,000 277-15 & 275-15 (unmarked cars) - Consider fully electric
alternatives like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Tesla model 3 or Y, and Chevy Bolt EV/EUVs, all assembled in the US. There are currently over 12 fully electric EVs with a range of 240-310 miles for under $48,000, with additional incentives of $9,500.
In addition to reducing emissions, the F150 Lightning EV offers resiliency during emergencies due to its bidirectional battery. The vehicle is a battery on wheels, acting as a generator for charging electric equipment on the road and during power outages.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
William Carney, President
Linda Jackson, Vice President
Stuart Siegel, Secretary
Greg Brockbank
Kay Karchevski
Kiki La Porta
Annika Osborn
Howard Schwartz
415.302.0110
The above options might also be considered for FY 21-22 and 22-23 purchases not yet fulfilled. We request that future fleet purchases be reviewed at the City’s quarterly CCAP workshops prior to City Council consideration, so that the public can fully understand departmental operational needs and charging infrastructure challenges. We understand that San Rafael’s new emergency center was prudently designed with electrification in mind and is wired for EV charging.
Rapid fleet electrification can help the City and its taxpayers save money, meet climate goals, and speed up California’s intended transition to zero emissions vehicles over the next 12 years.
Thank you for your forward-thinking sustainability work.
Sincerely,
Annika Osborn,
SSR Emissions Reduction Task Force
Below are a few of the EVs that already are saving money for the City of Fremont, Contra Costa County, and Marin jurisdictions like Fairfax and Corte Madera, while helping to meet climate goals:
Telsa all-electric patrol vehicle
Rivian all-electric special service vehicle