This city has acquired 17 electric vehicles since June and boasts the largest such fleet of any local government in Southern California.
“The range of the automobiles are suited here,” said David Niederhaus, general service director for the 14-square-mile city.
People who follow the nascent electric-car industry say this type of use–government agencies or businesses with defined borders and routes–might be the most logical. The vehicles have a range of about 125 miles and need eight hours to recharge. And government workers don’t often travel more than 80 miles a day.
Newport Beach launched the program with money designated for alternative-fuel vehicles. The $313,000 project includes a $450-a-month, three-year lease for 17 vehicles–12 Honda EV Pluses and five Toyota RAV4-EVs.
The city will study whether the higher cost of leasing electric cars as opposed to leasing or buying conventional vehicles is worth it. The electric-car leases come with insurance, free maintenance and roadside service. The city also hopes to save $10,000 to $15,000 a year in gas.
Either way, the city comes out ahead, because the funding would have been returned to the state if it weren’t used for alternative-fuel vehicles. Also, the South Coast Air Quality Management District will refund 25 percent of the cost.
Employees say driving the cars is similar to driving gas cars, except for the eerie silence and surprised looks they draw.
On the job, code inspector Steve Hook said, the silence of the car can be an asset. “I was joking, you can sneak up on contractors and be all over them before they know what happens.”
