Seven new alternative fuel vehicles in the Port of San Diego

Seven new alternative fuel vehicles in the Port of San Diego

As an environmental champion of San Diego Bay and its diverse ecosystems, the Port of San Diego is purchasing seven vehicles for its work fleet that will run on renewable diesel fuel.

The Board of Port Commissioners approved a $700,000 agreement with 72 Hour LLC, DBA National Auto Fleet Group at its November 5, 2019 Board meeting. The emissions produced from renewable diesel do not result in a net increase of C02 emissions because renewable diesel is produced by biogenic waste products that would have decayed and produced C02 emissions elsewhere.

Garry 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. The Port’s greenhouse gas emissions have decreased 13 percent since 2006 and the purchase of these vehicles will help to further decrease air pollution.”

The Port’s General Services staff will use the vehicles as part of their maintenance duties at the Port’s facilities, 22 parks and other areas. The vehicles to be purchased are:

  • One 10-yard dump truck;
  • Two ¾-ton crew cab pick-up trucks;
  • One ¾-ton utility gardener truck;
  • One ¾-ton crew cab stake bed truck;
  • One long-bed cargo stake truck;
  • One refuse packer/loader.

The agreement also includes 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 less air emissions than the older vehicles. Port staff researched the feasibility of purchasing alternative fuel SUVs, but this segment of the market did not offer sufficient options based on staff’s current equipment needs. The Port will continue to research opportunities to incorporate alternative powered vehicles throughout its work fleet.