Greening Our Fleet
PG&E operates one of the cleanest transportation fleets in the energy industry, with nearly 3,100 alternative fuel vehicles ranging from hybrid-electric bucket trucks to compressed natural gas vehicles. By integrating the latest available technologies and partnering with automakers to meet needs unique to our fleet operations, PG&E reduces emissions and operating costs, supports local businesses and expands our portfolio of low-emission vehicles.
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(Skip to main navigation)Our Approach
Fulfilling our commitment to a clean fleet begins by exceeding federal and state vehicle emissions and alternative fuel requirements. To do so, we are making significant investments in new vehicle technologies.
Federal regulations require that 90 percent of all light-duty vehicles purchased for our fleet be capable of using an alternative fuel—such as electricity or compressed natural gas—provided the technology is commercially available. In order to comply with California’s on-road diesel vehicle regulations, all of PG&E’s medium- and heavy-duty diesel vehicles met or exceeded 2007 standards for particulate levels by the end of 2016, and all vehicles in our fleet will meet 2010 standards for nitrogen oxide emissions by the end of 2017.
2016 Milestones
Last year, PG&E invested in a number of new vehicles and technologies to green our fleet. Among other efforts, we:
- Deployed additional electric power take-off equipped (ePTO) bucket trucks. PG&E, in partnership with Altec Industries, pioneered the development of these advanced vehicles and first deployed them in 2011. By the end of 2016, we deployed nearly 900 ePTO bucket trucks in our service area. These vehicles use a series of on-board batteries to allow crews to operate the bucket and other onboard equipment without having to idle the engine. Through the broad implementation of ePTO technology alone, we have avoided over 2.3 million gallons of fuel.
- Expanded use of plug-in electric hybrid technology exportable power. PG&E became the first electric and gas provider in the nation to deploy Class 3, Class 5 and Class 6 export-power-capable plug-in electric hybrid bucket trucks and work trucks, developed in partnership with Efficient Drivetrains Incorporated, a Silicon Valley-based electric vehicle manufacturer. Exportable power allows a truck to power buildings or homes in a neighborhood during planned or unplanned outages.
- Integrated driver feedback technology in multiple ways. We installed Telogis telematics in nearly 5,000 vehicles and pieces of equipment by the end of 2016. In-cab alerts enabled on most of these vehicles can indicate hard braking, hard acceleration and exceeding the speed limit, and other actions that can affect fuel efficiency and safety. This driver feedback promotes safe driving behavior and fuel efficiency, and we plan to install more than 2,000 additional units in 2017.
- Promoted employee electric vehicle adoption through workplace charging. PG&E installed nearly 350 chargers at our facilities via our Workplace Charging Program in 2016. PG&E has more than 100 chargers at our Bishop Ranch location in San Ramon—the largest single-building EV charging installation in California.
Measuring Progress
PG&E managed approximately 14,600 on-road vehicles and equipment in its fleet at the end of 2016. Of those, about 1,600 were electric-based, 300 were powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and 1,200 were fueled by biodiesel. Our network of electric charging stations is also growing: last year we reached 600 charge points at about 90 locations across our service area.
We also maintain a network of 32 CNG vehicle refueling facilities, 24 of which are open to customers. PG&E uses its expertise to help commercial customers take advantage of this relatively low-emitting, domestic alternative fuel in their own fleets.
Fuel Use Statistics
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Consumed by PG&E Fleet (gallons) | 10,182,712 | 11,173,337 | 10,861,933 |
| Biodiesel Consumed by PG&E Fleet (gallons) Footnote 1 | 175,809 | 160,973 | 187,152 |
- 1. Reported as B100 gallons. ▲
Looking Ahead
Looking to the future, PG&E’s goals remain the same: to build a smarter, cleaner fleet of vehicles while exceeding state and federal emissions regulations.
This includes increasing the use of the ePTO system across our fleet and adding more idle mitigation technologies to reduce fuel consumption and vehicle noise. In addition, by continuing to integrate Telogis telematics in our vehicles, we can gain deeper insight into how equipment is being used and how trucks are performing.
As a member of the U.S. DOE Workplace Charging Challenge, PG&E also continues to increase EV charging access for both fleet and employee vehicles, with plans to add about 150 charge points per year over the next three years.
| 2013 | 22 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 75 |
| 2015 | 156 |
| 2016 | 347 |
| 2017 | 390 Footnote 1 |
- 1. Total through June 5, 2017 ▲
We will also continue to work with industry, regulators, automakers and other partners to promote the transition to alternative fuel vehicles. This commitment includes our engagement with EEI to help speed the incorporation of plug-in electric technologies into vehicle fleets. We will also continue to promote CNG, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and hydrogen for heavy-duty truck and marine transportation.