As people all over the world strive to lower their carbon footprints and move closer towards an eco-friendly life, the City of Waterloo is a shining example of what can be done at the municipal level.
With more than 400 vehicles and pieces of equipment, Jason Evans, manager of fleet services for the City of Waterloo, has a lot on his plate, but environmental responsibility stays top of mind.
Having spent his career working with various fleets across the country, Jason applies his experience and passion not only to the management of the fleet but also to how the fleet impacts the environment. He describes Waterloo as “a very progressive city, looking to be ahead of the curve with their green fleet practices, always asking how we can complete the tasks and minimize the environmental impacts.” And where passion leads, practicality follows.
The road to going greener
City Council was one of many municipalities that declared a climate emergency. This is an important issue and one the city takes very seriously. “Progress to address climate issues is required from everyone, in fleet we’re doing our part by advocating and supporting the greening of our fleet where possible,” Evans says.
Of course, there are always budgetary constraints and that’s why planning is necessary to make the journey sustainable. “It’s exciting to see so much support for purchasing zero-emissions vehicles, but charging infrastructure must also be taken into account,” he continues. Fleet is collaborating with all divisions within the city to realize our operations’ future needs for zero-emissions vehicles and the necessary infrastructure to support them.
It’s not all smooth sailing, though. Even with all the planning and infrastructure in place, today’s economic landscape presents a few unique challenges, like the availability of equipment, which is Evans’ biggest obstacle to growing the green movement within his fleet.
With only a few available electric vehicle options that make sense for municipal use, the limited access to these vehicles is certainly an impediment. “We are challenged with being able to source the types of equipment we’re looking for, despite the fact that electric vehicles are more expensive than their internal combustible engine equivalents, demand is extremely high.”
Between availability and operational need, Evans has found it necessary to broaden the scope of his eco-friendly initiatives. “We are focusing not only on the fuel sources for our vehicles but also on the types of vehicles purchased and how they are used,” he says.
The decisions being made need to reflect the needs of the community – the city exists to deliver programs and services to residents. “We don’t want to assign someone an electric vehicle if it hinders the performance of their job,” Evans confirms. “But this is where we look at the complement of the fleet and where can we right-size vehicles.” Deciding that a small, energy-efficient vehicle can replace the job of a full-size truck is just part of the overall strategy, proving that forward-thinking is vital to long-term success.
Making lasting change
How do you green a fleet? Evans and his team consider where resources are needed most and how to get the best bang for their buck when adding things like electric or hybrid vehicles to the fleet. “We look at the actual need for this vehicle, and that’s how we are determining the right size and type of vehicle to purchase. In-depth discussion and analyzing data assist in the process of rightsizing,” Evans confirms.
“We also focus on utilization. How can we use these vehicles to get better value and lessen our impact on the environment? Can we pool them? Use one vehicle instead of two to get the job done? Or two instead of three? How do we scroll that back without handcuffing the operations and get our jobs done?” asks Evans.
Taking a green approach takes some creative thinking and experimenting. In fact, the city made headlines in 2022 with the purchase of a fully robotic emission-free lawnmower for the city, capable of cutting up to six acres of grass on one charge. It’s these types of projects that help cities determine what best suits their long-term needs.
As part of the green fleet initiatives, the City of Waterloo has added 10 fully electric vehicles so far, as well as putting solar panels on some of the maintenance vehicles and utility trailers that require off-site power. This means that a work vehicle or trailer could be parked on the side of the road doing some maintenance, and rather than sitting there idling, a solar source allows them to have their lighting on without running the engine.
As part of Evans’ progressive planning, he is turning to technology, specifically telematics to optimize his efforts, using tools to better monitor usage, observe fuel economy, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. “We can use the reporting to show divisions how vehicle utilization affects their operations and reduces our fleet-wide fuel consumption. It simply comes down to how we can use less fuel,” Evans says as he explains his newest focus.
“Data is critical in being able to build that framework and to use the tools you have in the very best way,” says Evans. “If we want to use less fuel and do it in a way that makes sense, data is a vital tool in the new age of fleet management.”
Planning for an even greener future
While the city has made great strides to go green, there’s no end in sight, with a plan to add more zero-emission vehicles, working towards the City of Waterloo’s impressive goal to make 50 percent of their vehicles zero-emission by 2030.
What is Evans’ advice to other municipalities looking to lower their carbon footprints? Broaden your strategy and plan ahead. Look for new technology, new evolutions, and new ways to improve. It doesn’t end with adding zero-emissions vehicles; there are many ways you can go greener by taking a look at your operations and making smart, targeted changes.
The City of Waterloo is heading into an even greener future. “I’m even more motivated when I see other municipal and private fleets getting involved and taking an environmentally responsible approach to fleet management,” says Evans.
Between focusing on utilization, measuring viability, studying telematics, right-sizing vehicles, and constantly exploring new options, the City of Waterloo’s fleet is looking toward a bright, green future – and leading the way for more fleets to do the same.
Jessica Brill is the editor of Facility Cleaning & Maintenance magazine.
