Agenda - 03-15-2005-9c - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 of just over $11,100. It should be noted that hybrid vehicles are usually considered to be "borderline" alternative fuel vehicles, and most grant agencies will not fund their purchase as an AFV. While hybrids do show emissions improvement when compared to conventional gasoline vehicles, the emissions reductions are marginal compared to other AFV's. • Biodiesel -There are no options for biodiesel vehicles on State contract and there are no fuel supplies available locally. • Electric - As with the biodiesels, there are no options available on State contract. In addition, research indicates that electric powered vehicles experience higher than normal maintenance issues. As stated in the February 1, 2005 Report of CNG Siting Staff Work Group, some municipalities and counties in North Carolina (including Buncombe County) have pursued retrofitting gasoline powered vehicles to CNG fueled vehicles. Should the Commissioners wish to pursue this option, staff would gather information from those counties and report back to the Board at a later date. Based on initial staff surveys, the estimated cost to retrofit a vehicle would probably range from $9,000 to $15,000 in addition to the original cost to purchase the vehicle. Staff plans to pursue grant opportunities that would cover some or all of the cost of retrofitting. It is important to note that staff does not anticipate that the new CNG fueling station would be operational until Fall 2005. The proposed station would be available for use only during normal business hours, Due to the criticality of public safety vehicles having to respond to emergency situations twenty-four hours a day, seven days per week, staff recommends that the vehicles proposed for the Sheriff's Department and for EMS be gasoline fueled in order to avoid potential downtime related to fuel not being available. As identified on Attachment 1 of this abstract, alternative fuel vehicles would be located in ERCD, Motor Pool, Health Department, with a possible retrofit planned for the Department of Social Services van. Staff will conduct further assessment of opportunities to retrofit vehicles purchased as gasoline-powered to alternative fueled, Elements that will affect the feasibility of additional retrofits will include cost per vehicle for retrofitting, availability/location of companies that can perform retrofitting on gasoline-powered vehicles, and the availability/location of companies that can provide services to alternative fuel retrofitted vehicles. Staff will report back to the Board with this information at a later date, Should the Board wish staff to pursue opportunities for purchase of alternative fuel vehicles instead of gasoline fuel vehicles, staff will do so. Sanitation Vehicles It is also important to note that the County's Sanitation division of Public Works has significant vehicle needs in order to properly operate and maintain our solid waste convenience centers located throughout the county. The most pressing needs include: Replacement of a 1990 front-end loader with more than 260,000 miles. • Replacement of a 1988 dump truck with more than 324,000 miles. The price outlined on Attachment 1 of this abstract includes the cost to purchase snowplow blades for the dump truck for staff to use in clearing driveways and parking lots during inclement weather. • Purchase of a roll-off truck and waste containers. For the last two years the County has contracted with a private hauler for this service at a cost of about $35,000 per year.