The City of Phoenix won the Top Green Fleet Award for 2023 from the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA). The annual Green Fleet Awards honor organizations that make a positive impact on the environment with their groundbreaking green initiatives.
“Earning the Top Green Fleet of 2023 award is a testament to our city’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, and Phoenix is honored to be named a leader among leaders,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “Through the dedication of our Public Works Department’s Fleet Services Division and our Public Transit Department, we are harnessing the power of alternative fuels and electrification to create a cleaner, healthier city. The City of Phoenix takes our responsibility for the well-being of our environment and community very seriously, and we will continue to innovate for the benefit of residents now and in generations to come.”
The Fleet Services Division of the Public Works Department manages a growing fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) and vehicles that use alternative fuels, including E-54 ethanol, biodiesel, CNG (compressed natural gas), and has recently added Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). The City’s Public Transit Department converts LNG (Liquefied natural gas) into CNG for use in city buses.
“We are always looking for new ways to make our fleet greener, even before we purchase new vehicles,” said Fleet Control Manager Michael Bauer. “Our acquisition process focuses on buying alternative fuel vehicles or equipment first , when feasible. This helps us minimize fleet emissions by reducing the use of petroleum fuel as much as possible. It’s critical to do it right the first time.”
Currently the City has two employee motor pools, each with dedicated electric vehicle parking and chargers for the EV fleet. Recently Public Works hired an Operations Analyst to focus on the best ways to expand the green fleet while researching future alternative energy sources. Phoenix also works to determine how many EV charging stations can be installed at certain sites, along with the associated costs of installation.
“The City of Phoenix really does it all,” said Rhea Courtney Bozic, NAFA’s Chief Judge of the Green Fleet Awards. “Its clean fuel integration is the best in the country. They have excellent training for staff and a strong organizational commitment to greenhouse gas reduction.”
Additionally, Fleet Services began introducing RNG, a fuel derived from gases generated from landfills and other waste products, into the existing CNG pipeline. It was a no-cost transition that saved the City $20,000 in the first month.
Other green initiatives within the City’s fleet include solar-covered parking for fleet equipment, a project that reuses parts from inoperable vehicles, and automatic vehicle location (AVL) which optimizes solid waste collection routes based on miles, time and number of containers collected.
Phoenix was named Top Green Fleet among a field of government and commercial fleet applicants from all over North America.
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