LA Metro purchases electric vehicles for non-revenue fleet

To help reduce the use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has purchased 10 Chevy Bolt zero-emission vehicles for its non-revenue fleet.

The Bolt is a zero-emission electric vehicle with an estimated range of 238 miles per charge. Charging time is 9.5 hours. Metro will be testing the cars over the next year for their feasibility and operational viability. The cars will be used as part of Metro’s vehicle pool for field operations and driver relief assignments.

Life-cycle costs will be assessed to determine the feasibility of replacing the entire Metro sedan fleet with electric vehicles. Preliminary research indicates that although initial electric vehicle capital costs are higher, operating costs — for maintenance and fuel — are lower and will continue to be reduced as battery technology advances and the range of vehicles increases.

As part of the initial pilot program, Metro has installed charging stations at Union Station, Division 13, Division 18 and the Central Maintenance Facility.

The Metro Board of Directors voted earlier this summer to endorse the conversion of the entire Metro bus fleet to zero-emission buses by 2030. The buses are currently powered by compressed natural gas, which is far cleaner than diesel but is still a fossil fuel.

Metro’s Sustainability program is focused on reducing the agency’s impact on the environment.