Council okays purchase of three Chevrolet Silverado EVs for city operations, with chargers included

Cathedral City council approved March 26 the purchase of three Chevrolet Silverado EV pickup trucks for the facilities, public works maintenance and environmental divisions.

Public works and environmental manager Deanna Pressgrove said the city added positions after the pandemic and needs three additional trucks. Staff requested all-electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and comply with regional air quality fleet rules. Jessup Chevrolet and Quality quoted $61,340.31 per truck; staff recommended purchasing locally from Jessup Chevrolet at that unit price. The quoted Chevy model has a reported 280‑mile range per charge, while the competing Ford Lightning quote had a 220‑mile range and longer lead times.

Pressgrove said Jessup included three Level 2 chargers at no additional charge with the truck purchases. Staff estimated installation costs of under $5,000 for the three Level 2 chargers and proposed using environmental conservation funds transferred to the equipment replacement fund for the purchase. Additional costs for emergency safety lighting and city decals totaled $10,634.76 ($3,544.92 each). The total purchase and outfitting cost reported in the presentation was $1,946,569.

Council members asked about charging times and vehicle lifespans; staff estimated Level 2 charging would typically take about four to six hours depending on battery state, and suggested overnight charging for daytime fleet use. Staff noted chargers would be available for city vehicles only and that the dealer’s proposal included the three chargers.

Council member Gutierrez moved approval and Mayor Pro Tem Gregory seconded; the motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.