Drafter
Clerk 09/26/2013
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A MOTION providing for review of the county's light duty vehicle utilization policy with regards to electric vehicles in the county fleet.
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WHEREAS, vehicles that are powered solely by electricity that is drawn from on-board batteries may offer the potential for efficient transportation in a way that significantly reduces the amount of transportation-derived generation of greenhouse gasses; and
WHEREAS, the county has shown leadership both in installing electric vehicle charging stations at strategic locations, and in acquiring significant numbers of electric vehicles in the county fleet for use by county employees, and
WHEREAS, the technology associated with those vehicles is a significant departure from the standard internal combustion engine technology, which results in a vehicle that presents a somewhat different operator control experience to drivers of such vehicles, and
WHEREAS, because the range of those vehicles between recharges is less than the typical range of internal combustion engine-powered vehicles, and because the availability of recharging station infrastructure is early in the developmental stage, without proper information and training some prospective drivers may be concerned about having sufficient battery charge to complete their trips, and
WHEREAS, the innovative nature of electric vehicles, and the potential concern of new electric vehicle drivers regarding the range of the vehicles between charges, may result in more limited utilization of those vehicles until users become more familiar with those vehicles, and until drivers are fully familiar with charging options, and
WHEREAS, the maintenance and repair experience of electric vehicles may also differ from conventional vehicles, potentially resulting in a differing useful vehicle life cycle, and
WHEREAS, county fleet operations with a significant proportion of the total numbers of vehicle trips associated with county business bein...

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