As part of a contract with General Motors (GM), New York City has placed an initial order for 50 all-electric Chevrolet Bolts to be used in the city’s fleet. According to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), the contract with GM will help New York City reach its goal of acquiring 1,000 electric vehicles (EVs) by the end of 2017, creating the largest municipal EV fleet in the nation.
As reported, this goal is part of the city’s initiative to cut municipal vehicle emissions in half by 2025 and 80% by 2035 – an aspect of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s OneNYC plan, which aims to create a more equitable, resilient and sustainable city.
“As part of our OneNYC plan, we are implementing 2,000 electric cars and reducing emissions in our city fleet,” says de Blasio. “We reached over 500 EVs after just one year, and the GM Bolt will now play a pivotal role as we make a push for 1,000 by the end of 2017.”
Manufactured at Lake Orion, Mich., the all-electric Bolt is larger than a traditional sedan and can operate for 238 miles on a single charge, providing the longest range to date of any EV in the city’s fleet.
“A cleaner city fleet is an important step toward our ambitious and necessary goal of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions 80 percent by 2050,” says Daniel Zarrilli, N.Y.C.’s senior director for climate policy and programs and chief resilience officer. “By expanding the city’s fleet of electric vehicles in partnership with GM, New York City is continuing to lead by example as we deliver on our OneNYC goals of delivering a more sustainable, more equitable and more resilient city.”
“N.Y.C. already operates the nation’s largest EV fleet, with over 530 units,” adds DCAS Commissioner Lisette Camilo. “The Bolt will be an exciting addition to our growing zero-emissions fleet.”
The Bolt will join the Nissan EV Leaf, Toyota Prius EV Prime and Ford Fusion EV Energi in the NYC fleet.
In addition, the City Council passed legislation sponsored by Council Member Costa Constantinides and Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez that would require the city to install at least 25 new EV charging stations in publicly accessible locations by March 1, 2018, as part of a pilot program.
Further, this announcement coincides with the city’s third annual Vision Zero Fleet Safety Forum at Queens Theatre in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. As part of the forum, over 400 representatives of private and public fleets, nonprofit advocacy groups, and fleet technology vendors come together to discuss ways to improve fleet safety and reduce collisions. According to the DCAS, the forum has helped launch a number of critical safety initiatives, including the truck side-guard program and the fleet ban on use of hands-free devices while driving.
“With some of the most efficient electrical vehicles available on the market today playing a big role in the city fleet, New York City is putting our money where our mouth is, as well as familiarizing New Yorkers with vehicles that can have a positive impact on our environment,” says Rodriguez, chair of the Committee on Transportation.
The new Bolts are expected to arrive in spring 2017.
