The City of Atlanta announced that it has secured more than $3.2 million in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the Clean Heavy Duty Vehicle Grant.
The grant will help fund “EcoFleet ATL,” an Atlanta initiative that will focus on advancing the city’s transition into electric vehicles (EVs).
As part of the program, a total of 11 city vehicles will be replaced with electric alternatives, including numerous street sweepers, utility trucks, shuttle/transit buses and one refuse hauler truck.
In support of Atlanta’s new vehicles, there will be a number of EV charging stations installed at four city-owned sites: Atlanta Fleet Service Headquarters, the Department of Watershed Management (DWM) Hemphill lot, DWM’s Drinking Water Building and the Department of Aviation.
Additionally, the program will also feature comprehensive training programs for city fleet mechanics and operators.
The city says that the educational programs will “support training for staff to maintain, service and operate both the EVs and the associated EV supply equipment (EVSE) to maximize longevity of the EcoFleet ATL assets.”
The EcoFleet ATL program is part of the Dickens Administration’s goal to address climate change, an issue that the mayor says is crucial in solving.
“The City of Atlanta has long understood that the nation’s climate crisis is one of the most urgent and significant challenges we face. We already have milestones in place that have us transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2035, and EcoFleet ATL will not only bring us closer to our climate goals but also support expanding EV capabilities — especially in our EV fleet,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.
“EcoFleet ATL will also advance equity and environmental justice in disadvantaged communities by prioritizing the installation of EV chargers in historically underserved areas, promoting unique economic and climate equity opportunities while also creating a city built for the future.”
