CARLISLE, Pa. — Cumberland County officials this week unveiled a new fleet of eight electric vehicles and charging stations it purchased at no cost to taxpayers.
“The county was able to purchase these vehicles and charging stations with $465,000 in state and federal grants,” Cumberland County Commissioner Kelly Neiderer said in a press release. “The yearly savings, reduction in emissions, and grant funds makes this a win for our county and residents.”
The eight new electric vehicles -- six Chevrolet Blazer EVs, one Ford Lightning electric pickup truck, and one Ford E-Transit van -- will replace eight gas-powered vehicles, officials said.
The county is projecting an average savings of $9,600 on gas per year; the cost to charge a vehicle for 100 miles is estimated at $2.10, compared to more than $15.50 per gas-powered vehicle.
“In addition to the savings on gas, we anticipate a 50 percent savings on repairs because electric vehicles, on average, have about 80 percent fewer moving parts,” said Brent Durham, Cumberland County Director of Facilities Management. “There is a federal mandate that electric vehicle battery manufactures must warranty the batteries for 8 years or 100,000 miles.”
The new electric vehicle fleet replaces gas vehicles ranging in age from 13 to 25 years old. The replacement of the vehicles was necessary and in accordance with a capital planning schedule., county officials said.
The Chevrolet Blazers will be used by Adult Probation and Juvenile Probation, the van by the Facilities Management Department and the pickup truck by the Conservation District for farm visits and hauling.
The fleet electrification project was a recommendation in the county’s 2022 Climate Action Plan that identified practical, cost-efficient ways the county could reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Following the adoption of the plan, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) funded a fleet electrification study that led to the county’s decision to transition to electric vehicles.
The county purchased the electric vehicles and accompanying charging infrastructure using funds from the DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, and the American Rescue Plan Act.
