Ford F-150 Lightnings are the latest vehicles helping San Diego Gas & Electric on a fast track to becoming a zero-emission fleet.
SDG&E added eight all-electric Lightnings to a growing lineup of vehicles that are taking the utility closer to its goal of fully electrifying its pickups, SUVs and cars by 2030.
Currently, more than 20% of SDG&E’s over-the-road fleet is electrified which includes a mix of all-electric, plug-in hybrids (PHEVS), hybrids and a hydrogen fuel-cell car. Idle mitigation technologies also help improve their green profile.
“Our service trucks are out in our community daily, doing everything from routine appliance checks to equipment repairs, to keep energy flowing safely and reliably to our customers,” said SDG&E Vice President of Operations Support Jennifer Jett. “Our goal is for our fleet vehicles to leave no trace of pollution behind.“
SDG&E also announced a new analytical tool called the Community Impact Platform to prioritize vehicle replacements in neighborhoods hit hardest by air pollution and climate change.
The innovative technology overlays more than 80 million data points from its fleet’s daily trips with socioeconomic metrics to create a heat map of emissions in the region’s most vulnerable communities. Using advanced analytics, the platform can present various scenarios for replacing vehicles to reduce emissions and improve air quality. For example, half of the company’s eight recently acquired Ford Lightning trucks have been deployed to the Metro District, which covers homes and businesses adjacent to regional transportation hubs like the airport, port and downtown. In addition to upgrading its fleet, SDG&E also tracks operating data to reduce idling and improve vehicle safety, and continuously reviews new technologies.
SDG&E is also working to transform transportation beyond its own fleet. To date, it has installed more than 3,400 charging ports and is building thousands more to support medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and equipment.
Under its Power Your Drive for Fleets program, SDG&E enables fleet owners and operators to switch to electric by connecting them with resources, charging rates and financial incentives to design and install the charging infrastructure needed to reduce costs, eliminate emissions and simplify vehicle maintenance.