Interoperability, Resiliency and Sustainability: Town of Carrboro’s Fleet Electrification Journey

The Town of Carrboro aims to reduce municipal and community greenhouse gas emissions and develop a system-wide approach to build resilience. One way it’s working to meet these objectives is to electrify its fleet.

We spoke with Keith Berger, deputy public works director, and Amy Armbruster, chief sustainability officer, about the Town’s fleet electrification experience and future plans.

When did Carrboro get its first EV and deploy its first charger? How many EVs are currently in your fleet?

We acquired our first EV and charger last year and currently have four vehicles in our fleet: two Ford F-150 Lightnings and two Nissan Leafs. We anticipate ordering more this fiscal year.

What are the different use cases for the EVs?

The two F-150 Lightnings are used by our Public Works Department to transport equipment and personnel. They also serve as barricades during Town events, parades and street closures.

The two Leafs are used by the Police Department’s social workers as part of the Community Care and Diversion Response team.

How many chargers does Carrboro have dedicated to its EV fleet? What are the vehicles’ typical charging schedules?

We have four Level 2 ports and plan to add DC fast chargers, though have none at this time. Both the F-150 Lightnings and Leafs are charged during the day, with the latter also charged overnight.

What is the most interesting electric fleet application you’ve worked on?

Putting the F-150 Lightnings to work. We’ve found the on-board power system to be extremely helpful. There have been times it would have taken a generator to perform the work, and being able to just plug the equipment into the truck has streamlined much of our operations.

What is the biggest shift in how the Town is thinking about its EV fleet from its initial deployments to today?

Initially, staff unfamiliar with EVs expressed anxiety about charging and were concerned about the risk of being stranded. However, as they gained experience, that apprehension vanished. Now, they value the EVs because they no longer have to interrupt their day for a trip to the gas station. The vehicles simply charge while they work in the office, ensuring they’re always ready to go.

Our strategy for the Town’s next EV purchases is to ensure we have a charging surplus. We are prioritizing the installation of charging infrastructure that exceeds the immediate needs of both our current and new fleet vehicles. Our goal is to have chargers operational before new EVs are delivered.

We are standardizing on OCPP-compliant charging hardware to ensure full interoperability. This strategic shift will allow us to connect any charger to any management system. If one software provider raises prices or goes out of business, we can simply switch to a different, more competitive service provider.

What is the one thing you’ve learned that you would like to share with others who are electrifying their fleets?

Plan, plan, plan. If you are working to retrofit facilities with charging capacity, you will run into unforeseen issues.

Are there any considerations for Carrboro’s fleet electrification as the Town rebuilds from Tropical Storm Chantal and plans for resiliency?

While Tropical Storm Chantal caused devastating damage — including the loss of over 30 fleet vehicles due to flooding — the unfortunate event has created an opportunity to accelerate our transition to EVs. As a result, we have significantly increased our purchasing plan and will order many more EVs this year than originally planned to replace the flooded vehicles.

While the Town’s Public Works campus has experienced flooding during previous heavy-rain events, the more than six feet of water caused by Tropical Storm Chantal was unprecedented. Recognizing that similar floods are likely to increase in both frequency and severity due to climate change, The Town has made the strategic decision not to rebuild at this location. We are actively seeking a new elevated Public Works campus site that ensures long-term operational resilience and safety.

What’s on the horizon for Carrboro’s fleet electrification?

As noted earlier, we plan to add DC fast charging to support our growing fleet. We will also be rolling out an At-home Charging Pilot for take-home fleet vehicles.

In addition, thanks to a Mobile Sources Emissions Reduction Grant from the NC Department of Environmental Quality, we are replacing a gas-powered UTV with an electric alternative.