Title
Presentation and Possible Acceptance of the Fleet Conversion Plan
Recommended Action
I move that County Council accept the Fleet Conversion Plan as presented.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends Council approve the motion as presented.
Board, Commission or Committee Recommendation
At the February 19, 2026 Environmental Sustainability Board meeting, the Board passed a motion supporting the Fleet Conversion Plan and recommended forwarding the plan to County Council for consideration.
Body
Led by Stantec in partnership with County staff, the Fleet Conversion Plan was developed to support the greenhouse gas reduction goals established in the County’s 2024 Climate Action Plan and evaluate strategies for transitioning the County fleet to zero emission vehicles. The analysis included a fleet operational assessment, evaluation of electric vehicle market availability, and a review of vehicle replacement timelines based on the County’s existing fleet management practices. The assessment found that many light duty vehicles are suitable for electrification today, while some medium and heavy duty vehicles have operational or market constraints that limit immediate conversion and require a phased transition as technology improves.
The plan evaluates two fleet transition scenarios. Under the current policy of converting two vehicles per year to electric vehicles, approximately 31% of the County fleet would be electrified by 2050. A second scenario aligned with the Climate Action Plan evaluates transitioning vehicles to electric as they reach their replacement cycle and are operationally suitable, resulting in approximately 86% of the fleet being electrified by 2050. The remaining 14% of vehicles are not anticipated to transition within the planning timeline due to operational constraints associated with specialized functions such as emergency response and fuel and maintenance vehicles. The plan also outlines phased charging infrastructure deployment at County facilities to support fleet electrification as vehicles transition.
Financial and emissions analyses compare these scenarios to a baseline internal combustion engine (ICE) fleet. The analysis estimates that the current EV policy scenario would increase the total cost of ownership by approximately 6% through 2050, while the Climate Action Plan (CAP) policy scenario would increase costs by approximately 33% due to higher vehicle purchase prices and charging infrastructure investments. As noted in the report, implementation of the CAP policy scenario may require additional funding to support the conversion of internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles. In terms of emissions outcomes, the current policy scenario would reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by about 9% between 2026 and 2050, while the accelerated scenario would reduce emissions by approximately 30% during the same period and eliminate about 76% of annual fleet emissions after full implementation beyond 2050.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item
The County’s current policy is to procure two electric vehicles per year and includes approximately $550,000 in recurring funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Accelerating fleet electrification in alignment with the Climate Action Plan scenario could require additional funding for vehicle procurement and supporting charging infrastructure beyond current allocations.
Attachments
A - Los Alamos County Fleet Conversion Plan Presentation
B - Final Los Alamos County Fleet Conversion Plan