Greening the City's fleet

Fueling the fleet

Diesel fuel

In 2018, we shifted to 100% renewable diesel fuel provided by Suncor. This is a major step towards using 100% renewable fuels in our fleet as 49% of our fleet is fuelled by diesel.

With the new shift in fuel providers, the diesel will go from 5% biodiesel content (B5) to 100% renewable diesel (R100) and be 100% renewable. 

Renewable diesel is similar to biodiesel but has some significant differences. Both biodiesel and renewable diesel can be produced from waste organic feedstock such as waste fats and used vegetable oils. However, renewable diesel refines the organic feedstock into an end product that is certified to the same standard as petroleum diesel, allowing renewable diesel to be used in blends of up to 100% without any issues. 

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

12% of our fuel use is CNG with 37% of that CNG being Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). In the near future, the RNG that we use will be from captured methane at the landfill. We have a dedicated natural gas compression station that allows for our vehicles (including 40 refuse trucks) to be operated on 100% CNG.

Electrifying the fleet

Electric vehicles

We currently have over 145 electric vehicles in our fleet. Some highlights include:

• 66 Engineering and Parks passenger vehicles including Mitsubishi iMievs, Ford Focus Electrics, and Nissan Leafs
• 22 Vancouver Police Department (VPD) non-emergency passenger vehicles outfitted with emergency lights and sirens
• 55 heavy duty equipment assets including Zambonis, greens mowers, utility vehicles, and forklifts 
• Two VPD motorcycles, used to promote cyclist and pedestrian safety
• Two Sanitation operations flat decks and one Vancouver Public Library cube van

Our plan is to reach over 200 electric vehicles in 2022, including:

• Medium and heavy duty trucks including refuse trucks, tractor trailers, and delivery vans
• Long range passenger vehicles

To support these electric vehicles, we have dedicated fleet electric vehicle charging stations which includes:

• 85 level two charging stations
• Four DC fast charging stations

Hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles

We currently have over 85 hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicles in our fleet. Some highlights include:

• 78 Engineering, Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, and VPD passenger vehicles including Toyota Prius Cs, Ford Fusions, and Ford C-Max Energis
• Five Parks heavy duty aerial trucks with plug-in battery-hydraulic systems
• Two Engineering medium duty refuse trucks 
• Two Engineering bulldozers, used for moving waste and building roads at the Vancouver Landfill

Utilizing the fleet

Efficient driving practices

We have implemented a program to reduce vehicle idling and wasteful fuel use. The centerpiece of this program is over 1,000 City vehicles with GPS and telematics systems.

From these GPS and telematics systems, we're able to gain insight into route optimization, idling, and other fuel reduction strategies.

Additional actions being taken include:

• Driver training and staff education on fuel efficient driving practices
• Idle management systems in VPD patrol vehicles and Engineering and Parks trucks
• Vehicles with dedicated cab heaters to allow staff to keep warm without idling

Car sharing

We have a contract with Modo to maintain a pool of vehicles near City Hall. During the day, the shared vehicles are available to City staff, reducing the cost of the City owning and maintaining fleet vehicles. During off hours, most of the cars are available to the public, boosting the growth of this green alternative to car ownership.

Recycling

The Fleet and Manufacturing Services Branch now recycles 150 tonnes of scrap metal a year, recycles oil and vehicle batteries, and has dedicated multi-stream garbage systems to allow for in-depth waste diversion.

Purchasing

Our fleet is managed centrally. This allows us to:

• Right size all new vehicles ensuring they are of the minimum size and power necessary
• Minimize the number of idle vehicles by evaluating the best mode of ownership (rent, lease, or own)

Many services are done in-house, including outfitting, maintenance repair, and fabrication. This not only saves money up front, it reduces the time that vehicles are out of service.