EnvironmentLA

Alternative Fuel & Related Links

At the end of 2009, the City of Los Angeles vehicle fleet was surveyed by the Environmental Affairs Department.  The City owns and maintains 4,184 alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs).  This total includes vehicles that use compressed and/or liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, electricity, or hydrogen, as one or more of the fuels.  As part of the Los Angeles Clean Cities Program, the City is committed to increase its fleet of AFVs by 15% each year.  As part of this commitment, in 2000, the City adopted the Clean Fuel Policy, providing more support to our operational departments in successfully obtaining approvals for such purchases. At the end of 2009, the 4,184 vehicle fleet of AFVs included 3,094 light duty vehicles and 1,090 medium and heavy-duty vehicles. Since 2000, the alternative fuel fleet has increased by 21%. This total does not include the many bicycles used by city patrol officers instead of cars, but does include a growing number of cleaner burning, hybrid electric vehicles such as the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic which are both classified as AT-PZEVs by the California Air Resources Board (ARB). For more information visit the Alternative Fuel Vehicles brochure.

At the end of 2009, the City's 3,094 light duty AFVs were comprised of 651 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, 110 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vehicles, 358 electric (65 full function electric vehicles and 293 neighborhood electric vehicles or NEVs, motorcycles and forklifts). There are 1,505 light duty hybrid (gasoline/electric) vehicles in use as well. Light duty AFVs are used by the General Services Department (GSD), Environmental Affairs Department (EAD), Department of Transportation (LADOT), Zoo Department, Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP), Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Harbor Department (Harbor), and Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA).  The light duty AFVs are used for passenger transportation, patrols, and transport of materials and equipment.
The City's fleet of medium to heavy-duty vehicles includes 267 CNG vehicles, 254 liquefied natural gas (LNG)/diesel dual fuel vehicles, 96 all LNG vehicles, and 234 LPG vehicles.  Medium to heavy duty vehicles include street sweepers, refuse collection trucks, roll off trucks, buses, shuttles, and dump trucks. The GSD, Department of Public Works, LADWP, Harbor, LAWA, and the LADOT use these vehicles.

In February 2006, the Los Angeles World Airports took delivery of 5 DaimlerChrysler hydrogen fuel-cell powered Mercedes-Benz F-Cell vehicles, bringing the City's current total number of hydrogen fuel cell cars to 7 for the 2008 AFV inventory.  The new vehicles will be used for general transportation in the LAWA vehicle fleet.  For more information on this, please read our April 2006 newsletter, page 11.  Since 2003, the City's General Services Department has also been operating Honda FCXs.  The Honda FCXs were the world’s first fuel cell car certified for commercial use.  The initial use of these vehicles represents a big step forward in vehicle technologies utilized by the City of Los Angeles.  The hydrogen fuel cell, is one of the most promising “clean” alternatives for fueling vehicles, as water vapor is the only exhaust.  The vehicles are powered by a hydrogen fuel cell that produces electricity onboard the vehicle.  A fuel cell functions by combining hydrogen (stored in a tank) with oxygen in the air to make electricity (and water as a by-product).  The electricity is used to power the electric motor, which in turn propels the vehicle.  The California Air Resources Board has certified these vehicles as Zero Emission Vehicles for everyday commercial use.

Alternative Fuel Infrastructure

The City of Los Angeles also has developed infrastructure to support its fleet of AFVs.  At the end of 2007, the City had or has helped with the development of 19 locations that dispense CNG, LNG, LPG and hydrogen.  Electrical charging stations exist throughout the metropolitan area, as described further below.  A new LNG station opened in August 2007 in South Los Angeles and, in 2005, the Harbor Area received a LNG station.  The City has a total of 3 state-of-the-art LNG fueling stations in full permanent operation in the San Fernando Valley and South Los Angeles.  The City also is upgrading its maintenance facilities to accommodate the repair and routine maintenance of the growing alternative fuel fleet.
In the past, LADWP launched the most aggressive electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure program in the country.  In partnership with 29 public agencies and private companies, the installation of over 175 EV charging stations occurred through the Quick Charge L.A. Program.  Overseen by the EAD and the LADWP, the program utilized funding from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC), which works under state law to reduce motor vehicle emissions, to help both public and private organizations show their leadership in promoting environmentally friendly alternative transportation technologies.  Quick Charge L.A. is the proud recipient of the 1998 South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Clean Air Award (Model Community Achievements category) and the 1997 Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (Environmental Partnerships category).  By early 2000, the LADWP had established or upgraded nearly 400 public, work site and fleet charging stations at locations including event centers, shopping malls, university campuses and more.  Over 175 chargers are located within the County of Los Angeles. These stations provide convenient, free charging for both consumer and fleet EV users.  A list of available EV charging stations is linked via LADWP's GreenLA website.