Columbia Basin Trust's "Charge Up" Program Fuels Fleet Electrification

NELSON, BC – The City of Nelson is celebrating a significant milestone as we unveil our first fully electric road vehicle, made possible through the support of the Columbia Basin Trust's "Basin Charge Up" Program. 

Under the Charge Up Program, the City of Nelson received funding to acquire a state-of-the-art Ford Lightning Electric Vehicle (EV), replacing an existing vehicle in the Parks Department's fleet. The electric vehicle not only reduces the use of dirty fuels but also sets an example for the community. Beyond environmental benefits, transitioning to electric vehicles aligns with the City's commitment to promoting cleaner air and fostering a healthier community for our residents and employees. 

"We are deeply grateful to the Columbia Basin Trust for their invaluable partnership. This funding has allowed us to take a significant step towards achieving our ambitious climate targets and demonstrates our shared commitment to promoting a safe, healthy, and low-carbon future," says Mayor Janice Morrison. 

Operational Leadership 

The City of Nelson's commitment to decarbonizing its operations extends beyond the acquisition of the Ford Lightning EV. Looking forward, the City of Nelson is developing a comprehensive 10-year Fleet Decarbonization Strategy. This strategic roadmap will outline measures to transition the City's fleet towards cleaner energy sources and include technological and behavioural change.  

As a part of this work, the City has initiated the task of measuring the baseline emissions of our vehicle fleet and is exploring how to use telemetric data to encourage low-impact driving behaviours, promote fuel efficiency, and reduce environmental impact.

“This work is firmly grounded in Nelson Next, the City's highly ambitious Climate Plan,” says Jody Koehle, the City’s Fleet and Transit Supervisor. “As technologies improve and become available, we look forward to assessing the performance of Electric Vehicles within our fleet and investigating how we can support our staff to operate our vehicles in the most efficient way possible.” 

For more information on the City of Nelson Climate Plan, Nelson Next, residents are encouraged to visit: www.nelson.ca/programs 

In top photo: Left to Right – In the driver’s seat - Mayor Janice Morrison, Community Liaison Columbia Basin Trust Patrick Checknita, Councillor Keith Paige, Councillor Kate Tait, City Manager Kevin Cormack, Senior Climate & Energy Strategist Cecilia Jaques, Climate & Energy Manager Carmen Proctor, Councillor Leslie Payne, Fleet and Transit Supervisor Jody Koehle, and Councillor Jesse Woodward  

Media Contact: 

Cecilia Jaques, 

Senior Climate & Energy Strategist with the City of Nelson 

cjaques@nelson.ca 

About the City of Nelson’s Climate Plan, Nelson Next 

The Nelson Next Climate Plan is a comprehensive roadmap that blends cutting-edge technologies, community engagement, and environmental leadership to foster a low-carbon and resilient future in Nelson.  The plan contains seven aspirational goals and includes a range of high-impact actions designed to decrease our impact on the environment and prepare for climate change.