In 2017, the city of Long Beach created the interdepartmental Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Task Force and later formalized the BEV Policy to guide the transition of all possible City vehicles to electric. This policy is accompanied by a five-year implementation plan to electrify and install infrastructure for up to 200 vehicles. The safety fleet is currently 42% alternative fuel and the non-safety fleet is 60% alternative fuel. Use of renewable fuels saved approximately 7,700 short tons of GHG emissions in 2016, 7,600 tons in 2017, and a projected 7,900 tons in 2018. Long Beach carries a heavy pollution burden due to traffic congestion and Port activity and has some of the highest asthma rates in the state. By switching to alternative fuels, the city reduces emissions and allow residents to breathe easier without sacrificing service quality.
