With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
LA City Council Votes To Electrify Its Fleet
The plan could lead to electric fire trucks and police cars in Los Angeles.
(
RuggyBearLA via the LAist Featured Photos pool
)
The Los Angeles City Council passed a motion Wednesday morning that will transition the city’s automotive fleet to electric vehicles.
The Electric Vehicle Master Plan will require that the City's Department of General Services electrify thousands of vehicles. The agency maintains a fleet of about 6,000 vehicles for city departments that include the Bureau of Street Services, Department of Recreation and Parks, Department of Transportation, and Bureau of Sanitation.
“Historically, this city has the worst air quality in the nation, thanks to freeways, sprawl, gas powered vehicles,” Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell said at the meeting. O’Farrell called the plan “a giant step” towards a clean energy future, and said it would improve air quality for disadvantaged communities located near transportation infrastructure.
The measure passed unanimously, with 12 council members voting in support.
Support for LAist comes from
The plan also looks at adding electric vehicle chargers at the Department of General Services’ 600-plus properties, some for the fleet and city vehicles, and others for the general public.
Los Angeles could see electric fire engines and police cars under the plan. It calls for other city agencies, including LAPD, LAFD and Los Angeles World Airports, to review and update policies concerning electric vehicles and chargers, and electrify their own fleets. O’Farrell said the motion will electrify more than 10,000 vehicles across city departments.
The motion comes in the wake of an August 2021 Executive Order from President Joe Biden to make half of all new vehicles sold by 2030 zero-emissions vehicles.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases. -
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead. -
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades.
Best of LAist