Best Practices

TRANSPORTATION BEST PRACTICE

City Fleet Reduction

San Francisco, CA

Purpose

To reduce the size of light duty City fleet vehicles.

Outcomes

In 2010, the City’s fleet had been reduced by 17% (from 2005 levels). 

Also in 2010, then Mayor Gavin Newsom announced San Francisco’s partnership with City CarShare, the largest nonprofit carsharing organization in America. In November 2012, City CarShare added 18 plug-in vehicles and 160 hybrids to their fleet for shared use. With 44% of City CarShare’s fleet made up of electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, the organization annually reduces 80 million pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

In March 2012, to improve tracking and implementation efficiency, the City employed the GPS software suite FleetFocus created by AssetWorks. The software will improve data collection in order to increase fleet efficiency, track asset trends to reduce costs and generate reports that will be available to departments through a database.

Background & Summary

An Executive Directive was put into effect March 26, 2008, requiring a 5% reduction in City-owned general purpose vehicles for fiscal year 2008-2009, in order to effectively manage fleet use and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Additional fleet management measures include removing 103 city vehicles that have been deemed under-utilized, improving availability of carsharing services which will allow for cross-departmental use and requiring approval for take home use.

In 2010, Newsom affirmed the Directive and proposed a 20% decrease, 5% annually, of passenger car and truck use throughout City departments by 2014. The legislation also requires all vehicles 12 years or older be removed by 2014, counting towards the annual 5% reduction requirement.

As of March 2012, the City general government fleet consists of 456 cars, 265 pickups, 15 SUV’s and 92 vans, totaling 828 general purpose vehicles in use.

Public Outreach & Education:

The Department of the Environment Clean Air Program developed a clean purchasing guide containing a list of clean, light duty passenger vehicles approved for purchase.

Fiscal Impacts

The Directive temporarily freezes any budgetary funds going toward non-replacement fleet vehicles.

For FY 2006-2007, the entire city fleet used a total of 2,284,881 gallons of gasoline, B20 Biodiesel, propane and compressed natural gas (CNG).

For FY 2007-2008, the fleet used a total of 2,362,806 gallons of gasoline, B20, propane and CNG.

For FY 2008-2009, the fleet used a total of 2,187,970 gallons of gasoline, B20, propane and CNG.

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Last updated December 16, 2012

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