In an effort to cut fuel costs, the City of Loveland’s municipal fleet has begun moving towards a future where electric vehicles will serve a majority of its needs.

After seeing a 29 percent increase in fuel costs between 2009 and 2011, city officials began researching the benefits of employing alternatively fueled vehicles. Partnering with Nissan, the city purchased two Nissan LEAF battery electric vehicles (BEVs), taking advantage of Nissan’s municipal lease program, which allows the federal tax credit of $7,500 per vehicle to be incorporated directly into the lease. The city has ordered three more of the BEVs for 2013 and another four for 2014.

The City of Loveland foresees a future when electric vehicles service the majority of its needs, ultimately planning to convert all fleet vehicles for which no heavy hauling requirements and with operational ranges within a 35-mile radius of the city to plug-in electric vehicles. Download a white paper on the Loveland's experiences with electric vehicles here.