PORT TOWNSEND — Four electric vehicles are being considered by different departments within Jefferson County, which wants to make progress on vehicle emissions standards.
Josh Montgomery, the county’s public works fleet manager, presented an electric vehicle (EV) workshop on Monday to the Board of County Commissioners, who rejected a resource request last week for a combustion fuel truck for the fire marshal’s office.
Commissioner Greg Brotherton said it’s time to draw a line in the sand about continuing to purchase combustion vehicles every time there is a fleet need.
“It’s a new thing for Jefferson County and Jefferson County’s fleet,” Public Works Director Monte Reinders said Tuesday. “No one’s opposed to it, but there’s a lot to get used to. First of all, we’ve got to have charging stations at our facilities, which we currently don’t. If we do, there’s no reason not to have some electric vehicles.”
Reinders said the conversation about electrification for the county fleet has been underway for some time, but the transition is moving at a similar pace to society. Currently, the county owns one electric vehicle, a Chevy Bolt.
Two years ago, state Dpeartment of Ecology adopted California’s vehicle emission standards, which dictate that, by 2035, 100 percent of new vehicle sales for passenger cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty vehicles must have zero emissions, according to their website.
Of the four EV purchases the county is considering, two would be replacements for retiring fleet vehicles, one would test functionality as a pursuit vehicle for the sheriff’s department, and one would be for the office of the fire marshal, Montgomery said.
He offered commissioners a side-by-side comparison that showed while the initial costs of EVs are notably more expensive, they are projected to save on expenses through the life of the vehicle when fuel or charge and maintenance are taken into consideration. The discrepancy in initial costs between EVs and combustion vehicles would require additional funding for the fleet — possibly from the general fund.
The commissioners said they were likely to support EV purchases.
The commissioners passed a motion for fleets and public works to move ahead with the four vehicles discussed, to further consider charging station options and to work on developing an EV policy moving forward.
The health department, public works, the sheriff’s office and office of the fire marshal are departments currently on deck to add EVs.
The health department and public works are considering the Nissan Leaf S. The comparison chart shows the EV costs $38,731 after up-fitting, while the counterpart gas sedan, a 2024 Nissan Versa, costs $23,660 after up-fitting.
The sheriff’s office is looking at adding an EV to its pool rather than replacing a retiring vehicle. That would be in addition to its existing combustion engine fleet, rather than replacing a retiring vehicle. It is considering a Chevy Blazer EV as a pursuit vehicle, expected to cost $91,205 after up-fitting, compared to the combustion counterpart of the same name at $71,000.
Fire Marshal Phil Cecere, who also attended Monday’s meeting, said he had been able to try a Ford F-150 Lightning truck during the week, as well as look into its specs. He concluded that the vehicle would serve his office’s needs. The Office of the Fire Marshal does not currently have a vehicle.
Limited discussions took place about the need for charging stations to be installed at the Castle Hill public works facility. The Chevy Bolt, currently in the fleet, charges at the courthouse charging station.
“It’s not a secret that over the life of a vehicle, that electric vehicles, particularly in the Northwest, where the energy grid is fairly clean, are gonna have reduced climate impacts, so that’s a benefit, if they prove to be more reliable,” Reinders said. “There’s some data that suggests they are going to be more reliable, less time in the shop, but we’ll just have to see.”
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Reporter Elijah Sussman can be reached by email at elijah.sussman@sequimgazette.com.
