Atlanta awarded $3.2M to support electric vehicle fleet transition

The city of Atlanta has been awarded $3,212,003 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a Clean Heavy Duty Vehicle Grant.

The program, titled EcoFleet ATL, will support the city’s transition to an electric fleet of vehicles, installation of new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and creation of EV training programs.

“The City of Atlanta has long understood that the nation’s climate crisis is one of the most urgent and significant challenges we face,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens says. “We already have milestones in place that have us transitioning to 100 percent 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.” 

The city of Atlanta’s EcoFleet ATL program will replace 11 total vehicles with electric alternatives. The city will replace one Class 6 diesel refuse hauler truck with a Class 7 electric alternative, one Class 7 diesel street sweeper with a Class 7 electric sweeper, three Class 6 diesel utility trucks with Class 7 electric alternatives, two Class 7 diesel utility trucks with Class 7 electric alternatives and four Class 6 diesel shuttle/transit buses with Class 7 electric alternatives.

EcoFleet ATL will also install 11 150-kilowatt DC fast Level 3 chargers at four different city-owned sites: three at Atlanta Fleet Service headquarters, one at the Department of Watershed Management Hemphill Water Treatment lot, two at DWM’s Bureau of Drinking Water building and five at the Department of Aviation.

“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,” Dickens says.

In addition to adding replacement EVs and installing the city’s first DCFC systems, the mayor’s office says EcoFleet ATL will support training programs for city fleet mechanics and operators.