HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/03/2002, C16 - FLEET EXPANSION - BATTERY-POWERED UTILITY CARTS council Mfi�°� 9/s/4 Z
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CITY O F SAN LUIS O B I S P O
FROM: Michael D. McCluskey, Public Works Director
Prepared By: David Elliott,Administrative Services Manager
SUBJECT: FLEET EXPANSION—BATTERY-POWERED UTILITY CARTS
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Authorize expansion of the City fleet through acquisition of ten Ford Th!nk battery-powered utility
carts from Barber Ford of Ventura (cost per vehicle: about$100 for transportation costs)
DISCUSSION
Barber Ford of Ventura can deliver Ford Th!nk zero-emission battery-powered utility carts to the
City at a cost of$100 per vehicle to cover transportation. These vehicles are being made available
to public agencies at virtually no cost so that Ford Motor Company can meet State-mandated
average emission standards. One nice feature is that they don't require a special recharging
station; they just plug into a standard 110 volt outlet.
Because these vehicles have a maximum speed of 25 mph, they aren't really suitable for driving
on the street (although it is legal to do so where the posted speed limit is 35 mph or less). For
this reason Public Works called the City's various maintenance supervisors to see if they were
interested in using such vehicles in their operations. Based on their responses, there is a need for
ten of these vehicles:
• three for the Water Reclamation Facility Program
• two for the Golf Course Program
• two for the Fleet Maintenance Program
• three for the Park and Landscape Maintenance Program
The Water Reclamation Facility has a pickup truck scheduled for replacement in 2002-03.
Utilities Department has agreed to replace this vehicle with three utility carts rather than a new
pickup truck. The Golf Course has a small utility truck scheduled for replacement in 2002-03.
Parks and Recreation Department has agreed to replace this vehicle with two utility carts rather
than a new utility truck. Because of these two replacements, the net fleet expansion will be eight
vehicles. This is only a temporary expansion, and when these vehicles need to be replaced in the
future, Public Works will only do so upon re-evaluation of the need and with the replacements
being treated as new vehicle requests.
FISCAL IMPACT
Total acquisition cost will be about $1,000. There is $20,000 budgeted for replacement of the
Water Reclamation Facility pickup truck. There is $25,000 budgeted for replacement of the Golf
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Council Agenda Report—Fleet Expansion—Battery-Powered Utility Carts
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Course utility truck. The acquisition cost for Fleet Maintenance and Park and Landscape
Maintenance will be covered out of their operating budgets.
There will be minor reductions in fuel expense and minor increases in electricity expense. The
effect on vehicle maintenance cost is not known.
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