Dallas City Council approves testing electric cars for city fleet

Posted on Jan 11, 2012 in Electric Vehicle Chargers, Electric Vehicles by CFC 1 Comment

By Steve Thompson

The Dallas City Council approved three measures this morning to test using electric cars as city vehicles. City officials plan to tap into three pilot programs that provide cars, charging stations and free electricity. On Monday, the council’s transportation committee voted to recommend two pilot programs to the full council for approval today. But they wanted more information on a third program, which involves providing free city electricity to the public.

That third proposal, by ECOtality, would give the city 10 charging stations for both city and public use. But the city would pay for all the electricity for the first year, and council members were concerned about this cost.

City staffers could not immediately say how much that electricity would cost. As of October, Dallas County had registered only 62 Chevy Volts and 34 Nissan Leafs — the two most common electric car models. Providing free charges to the public could cost at most about $40,000 but probably far less, city staffers said Monday.

This morning, city staffers came back with numbers they had crunched based on other charging stations in use across the country. The total cost of the stations to the city’s general fund: $400, city staffers said. For the year. It would cost the city’s aviation operating fund, which is paid for by airport fees, another $1,400. That’s because some of the charging stations would be located at Love Field and Executive Airport.

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CFC Clean Fuel Connection is leading the charge in alternative fuels with strong support in the electric vehicle and compressed natural gas industries. We have been consulting, installing and distributing ev chargers since 1999 for cities, businesses and home owners. We are also a leader in CNG products, installation and consulting. We are the exclusive dealer of Galileo natural gas products in the United States. For more information on our services please visit the Clean Fuel Connection website.