The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) has taken delivery of another two electric vehicles (EVs) as of mid-March 2024, with a third on the way as part of its 2024 vehicle replacement program.
“We have had two new EVs delivered, and we are in the process of getting them ready for service,” said an RMOW communications official in an email to Pique.
The vehicles joining the fleet are a Ford F-150 Lightning, for the facilities construction management team, and a Ford E-transit van for electrical and plumbing.
A second F-150 Lightning is due for delivery in the first half of this year, and will replace a 2011 truck used by the FireSmart team.
The acquisition of the three EVs is part of the RMOW’s ongoing vehicle procurement policy, which is intended to slowly replace internal combustion vehicles with electric vehicles over time as vehicles reach the end of their service lives.
The RMOW currently has about 150 vehicles in its fleet, of which (with the three added in 2024), 11 are electric.
Up until recently, most EVs on the market have been smaller passenger vehicles, but more classes of vehicles are being electrified by carmakers—giving local governments such as the RMOW more opportunities to replace work trucks and vans with vehicles in line with climate goals.
“Manufacturers continue to branch into more classes of vehicles and equipment, and we anticipate the pace will pick up,” said the RMOW official. “As we get into 2025 and beyond, we are expecting to see an increase in classes, types of vehicles and equipment in the marketplace. The vehicles are expected to be more robust, have longer run times and suit the requirements of our work better.”
They added the RMOW is providing feedback on what sort of engineering considerations work best for municipal fleets.
“Until now, there have only been full EV options for passenger cars, SUVs, half-ton pick-up trucks, and compact work trucks. Considering the type of work we do, we are phasing EVs in where appropriate.”
The new vehicles come online at the same time the RMOW recently acknowledged it is not keeping up with its goals in reducing carbon emissions, with EVs one of many levers the municipality can pull to reduce its own corporate greenhouse gas emission footprint.
