Driving change: Decarbonizing the City of Cranbrook’s fleet
At a glance
The City of Cranbrook, located in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, required a comprehensive plan to decarbonize its community vehicles and fleet assets while minimizing disruption to critical municipal fleet operations. GHD led a team of consultants to deliver three reports that analyzed the current infrastructure conditions and developed multiple pathways for decarbonization, considering fleet policy, community needs and the financial and environmental impacts of decarbonization.
The challenge
Transitioning a municipal fleet to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) poses significant challenges, demanding careful consideration of capital costs, infrastructure readiness and the operational requirements of diverse vehicle types. The transition must address the complex needs of community stakeholders while establishing a supportive fleet policy framework. Cranbrook’s fleet included heavy-duty and emergency vehicles, adding complexity to the transition. Heavy-duty vehicle technology is less mature than that for light and medium-duty ZEVs, requiring tailored solutions for a seamless shift. Additionally, emergency vehicles face unique challenges due to their need for constant readiness, high energy consumption, and specialized designs.
Our response
GHD collected data on 125 in-scope vehicles parked at nine locations around the city and processed this data to fill in gaps and verify accuracy. Using the proprietary GHD ZEVO™ consulting platform, scenario analysis was conducted to understand the environmental, financial and infrastructure implications of each decarbonization option. This included a market scan of suitable technologies and recommendations to overcome transition barriers. Two collaborative workshops were held to develop inputs, constraints and preferences, crucial for defining the analysis parameters and aligning with the city’s sustainability goals.
GHD partnered with Innotech Fleet Strategies to review fleet operations, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices. The review focused on identifying areas for improvement and optimization, leveraging Innotech's experience in managing fleets in British Columbia. Recommendations included guidance on structuring municipal fleet budgets and emphasizing the importance of third-party agreements for maintenance and parts.
WATT Consulting was also engaged to define and execute the Community Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Plan. This process involved developing a public and stakeholder engagement strategy, conducting multiple rounds of online surveys and stakeholder interviews, and completing an EV Infrastructure Gap Analysis. Utilizing a “made-in-BC” methodology, WATT conducted the analysis in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to create a composite index assessing the suitability of areas for hosting EV charging stations.
"GHD's skillset and collaborative methods provided the City with a couple of options to meet its decarbonization goals and helped with integrating environmental considerations into enhanced fleet management practices."
The impact
The successful completion of this decarbonization project has enabled GHD to deliver a comprehensive, evidence-based report outlining clear pathways for the City of Cranbrook’s fleet transition. Leveraging GHD’s data-driven fleet electrification plan, Innotech’s thorough analysis of fleet policy best practices and WATT’s collaborative stakeholder engagement approach, we developed holistic strategies to reduce city-wide emissions. Key insights from this project will empower the City and its stakeholders to make impactful, informed decisions for a sustainable future.