Municipal EV Fleet Transition Framework

Introduction: The Imperative for Transportation Electrification

The electrification of municipal vehicle fleets represents a critical intervention point for municipalities seeking to achieve climate, public health, and environmental justice objectives. As the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in New Jersey, the transportation sector is a primary focus of state-level decarbonization policy, most notably the New Jersey Energy Master Plan. In urban contexts like Newark, the co-location of high-volume transportation corridors, port facilities, and industrial zones creates significant public health burdens, which are disproportionately borne by low-income communities and communities of color.

This project was initiated to develop a foundational analytical framework to guide the City of Newark’s transition to a zero-emission municipal fleet, thereby aligning municipal operations with state policy and addressing documented community concerns regarding air quality and public health. This report presents the results of a data-driven analysis designed to inform future energy infrastructure and transportation policy.

Scope of Analysis & Research Methodology

This study employed a mixed-methods approach to establish a comprehensive baseline assessment of Newark’s current Electric Vehicle (EV) readiness. The methodology integrated quantitative spatial analysis with qualitative policy review and comparative case study analysis across three primary domains:

Municipal Fleet Composition Analysis

An analysis of the city’s light-duty vehicle stock was conducted using the most recent publicly available dataset (U.S. Department of Energy, 2016) and forward-looking projections from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). This historical and projective analysis was designed to model the existing fleet and immediately revealed a critical data deficiency, establishing the need for a comprehensive, updated municipal fleet inventory as a primary strategic recommendation.

Charging Infrastructure Network Assessment

A spatial analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was conducted to evaluate the existing public charging network. Using station location data from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) and address point data for the city, an accessibility analysis was performed. This analysis determined that only 30.9% of Newark addresses have walkable access (defined as a radius of 800 meters) to a public charger, with over 12% of the city’s land area constituting critical infrastructure gaps.

Municipal Facility Readiness Evaluation

A dataset of municipally-owned properties was geocoded and spatially joined with data from Public Service Enterprise Group (PSE&G), specifically the EV Hosting Capacity and Solar Power Suitability maps. This analysis identified city-owned parcels with high technical potential to serve as future charging hubs, considering both grid capacity for interconnection and the co-location potential for solar energy generation to enhance resilience and reduce operating costs.

Key Findings & Analytical Implications

The analysis identified three primary barriers to an effective and equitable municipal EV transition in Newark:

Critical Data Deficiency

The absence of a current, comprehensive inventory of the municipal fleet precludes strategic procurement, total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis, and optimized transition planning.

Inequitable Infrastructure Distribution

The existing public charging network is insufficient to support widespread adoption and is inequitably distributed, creating significant accessibility barriers that contradict principles of distributive justice in public infrastructure investment.

Underutilization of Municipal Assets

The city possesses a portfolio of publicly-owned properties with high technical feasibility for hosting charging infrastructure, representing a significant untapped resource for addressing public access gaps and serving municipal fleet needs.

The direct implication of these findings is that effective city-wide EV transition is contingent upon first addressing these foundational gaps. The analysis provides a clear, evidence-based justification for prioritizing a comprehensive municipal fleet audit and for developing an infrastructure deployment strategy that centers on equity and leverages existing municipal assets.

Strategic Recommendations

Based on the analytical findings, this project proposes a phased implementation strategy:

Phase 1: Data Foundation (0-6 months)

• Comprehensive Fleet Inventory: Conduct detailed audit of all municipal vehicles including age, mileage, fuel consumption, and replacement schedules
• Total Cost of Ownership Analysis: Develop TCO models comparing conventional and electric vehicles across different use cases
• Baseline Emissions Assessment: Establish current fleet emissions to track progress toward decarbonization goals

Phase 2: Infrastructure Development (6-18 months)

• Strategic Charging Network: Deploy charging infrastructure at high-potential municipal facilities identified through GIS analysis
• Grid Integration Planning: Coordinate with PSE&G on grid capacity upgrades and renewable energy integration
• Public-Private Partnerships: Leverage municipal assets to expand public charging access in underserved areas

Phase 3: Fleet Transition (12-60 months)

• Phased Vehicle Replacement: Prioritize replacement of high-mileage, high-emission vehicles with electric alternatives
• Workforce Development: Train municipal staff on EV maintenance and operation
• Performance Monitoring: Track emissions reductions, cost savings, and operational performance

Policy Integration Framework

The project identified several policy mechanisms to support successful EV transition:

Procurement Policy Updates

• Establish EV-first procurement policies for municipal fleet replacement
• Integrate lifecycle cost analysis into vehicle purchasing decisions
• Align procurement with state and federal incentive programs

Zoning and Land Use Integration

• Update municipal parking requirements to include EV charging provisions
• Incorporate EV infrastructure into development review processes
• Leverage municipal properties for community charging access

Environmental Justice Considerations

• Prioritize charging infrastructure deployment in environmental justice communities
• Ensure equitable access to public charging facilities
• Track air quality improvements in overburdened neighborhoods

Expected Outcomes and Impact

This analytical framework positions Newark to achieve multiple co-benefits through strategic EV fleet transition:

Environmental Benefits

• Reduced GHG Emissions: Municipal fleet electrification will contribute to citywide emissions reduction goals
• Improved Air Quality: Decreased criteria air pollutants in communities disproportionately affected by transportation emissions
• Climate Leadership: Demonstration of municipal commitment to climate action

Economic Benefits

• Operational Cost Savings: Reduced fuel and maintenance costs for municipal operations
• Job Creation: Green jobs in EV maintenance, charging infrastructure, and renewable energy
• Economic Development: Attraction of clean technology businesses and investment

Social Equity Benefits

• Environmental Justice: Reduced pollution burden in frontline communities
• Improved Public Health: Decreased respiratory health impacts from vehicle emissions
• Enhanced Mobility Access: Expanded public charging infrastructure improving EV adoption accessibility

Conclusion

This project provides the City of Newark with a foundational, data-driven assessment of its current EV readiness. It advances the city’s capacity from high-level goal-setting to a concrete, evidence-based understanding of existing conditions by identifying specific data and infrastructure gaps and quantifying spatial inequities. The analysis serves as an essential tool for the Office of Sustainability to pursue state and federal funding opportunities and to ensure that Newark’s transition to a clean fleet is executed in a strategic, cost-effective, and equitable manner.

This work lays the critical groundwork for a program that can ultimately reduce criteria air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, improve public health outcomes in overburdened communities, and position Newark as a leader in municipal clean energy and sustainable transportation.

Applications and Future Work

The analytical framework developed through this project has broader applications beyond Newark:

• Regional Replication: Other New Jersey municipalities can adapt the methodology for their own fleet transition planning
• State Policy Development: Findings can inform state-level EV infrastructure and fleet electrification policies
• Federal Grant Applications: The data-driven approach provides strong foundation for pursuing federal transportation and climate funding
• Academic Research: The methodology contributes to the growing body of research on municipal sustainability and transportation electrification
• Private Sector Engagement: The infrastructure gap analysis can guide private charging network deployment strategies