Page 9 - Nov-Dec2022 Vol 40 No 5

the market. Pursuit-rated vehicles also electric technology. Knoxville’s Green for replacement is relatively modest and
have unique operational needs with Fleet policy contains a replacement distributed over years, which allows the
green alternatives that are not always decision-making framework that ranks additional cost to be absorbed within
affordable and readily available. In each of these options. For pickups and existing departmental operating budgets.
Knoxville’s case, it was therefore most SUV’s, Knoxville has opted to procure bi- By utilizing a total cost of ownership
practical to make non-pursuit rated fuel vehicles powered by gasoline as well model to measure the costs involved in
sedans, pickup trucks, and SUVs the as renewable propane autogas. every facet of a vehicle’s life, it becomes
initial targets for green replacement. This project was designed to work clear that savings achieved throughout
At present, sedans are most suited to within the existing vehicle replacement the life of a green vehicle can offset the
be replaced by electric vehicles based budget with the potential for at least one premium paid at the time of purchase. For
on cost and market availability. It is capital infusion in the future as green example, the six sedans with traditional
anticipated that Pickups and SUVs will replacements increased. Purchase prices internal combustion engines that are
have comparable and affordable electric can be fluid based on market conditions, set to be replaced by electric vehicles in
vehicle replacements available on the existing procurement contracts and other FY22, would yield an average savings
market in the near future, but this has factors at the time of purchase. Generally of $6,002.72 in fuel and maintenance
not been the case to date. Rather than speaking, the City’s electric vehicle sedan costs over the life of the vehicle. In any
replacing these units that come due with of choice has a total up-front cost of event, the aim of this project is not only
more traditional units that will remain in about $4,000 over the current projected to save money, but to reduce greenhouse
service for an 7-10 years, it is best to find replacement budget for a traditional emissions caused by municipal operations.
a green solution. The ideal solution is to sedan, without adjustments. The increase In a sense, any cost savings would be the
utilize cleaner alternative fuel or hybrid in monthly rents for vehicles targeted “icing on the cake.”

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