The Port of San Diego has purchased seven alternative fuel-run vehicles as it looks to accelerate its efforts to decrease its carbon emissions and meet previously set out environmental goals.
The vehicles which the Port will purchase include one 10-yard dump truck, two ¾-ton crew cab pick-up trucks, one ¾-tone utility gardener truck, one ¾-ton crew cab stake bed truck, one long-bed cargo stake truck and one refuse packer/loader.
It will include two gasoline-powered mid-sized SUVs that will replace two older fleet vehicles. The newer SUVs will be more gasoline efficient and will, therefore, produce fewer air emissions than the older vehicles.
The vehicles will be provided by 72 Hours LLC and DBA National Auto Fleet Group and will cost approximately US$700,000. The deal was approved by the Board of Port Commissioners at its November 5, 2019,
Gary Bonelli, Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners, said the use of renewable diesel will help the Port “meet its Climate Action Plan goals to curb greenhouse gas emissions along San Diego Bay and its tidelands.”
Emissions produced from renewable diesel ensure CO2 emissions does not increase because it is produced by biogenic waste products that would have decayed and produced emissions elsewhere.
The Port’s greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 13% since 2006 and Bonelli believes the purchase of these new vehicles will help to decrease pollution even further.
Port staff researched the feasibility of purchasing alternative fuel SUVs, but this segment of the market did not offer sufficient options based on current equipment needs.
The Port says it will “continue to research opportunities to incorporate alternative fuel powered vehicles through its work fleet.”
