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Larkspur forum reviews city fleet electrification, police EV purchases and microgrid prospects
Summary
Staff said Larkspur’s fleet is small and largely light-duty, outlined Central Marin Police Authority purchases of electric police vehicles and planned charger upgrades, and discussed microgrids and battery storage as resilience measures for electrified fleets.
Larkspur staff told the Climate Action Forum that the city operates a modest fleet—roughly 20 active vehicles, primarily light-duty—and that electrification is progressing where practical, but challenges remain for heavy- and emergency-duty vehicles.
"The city of Larkspur has a very modest fleet and we don't have a lot of heavy-duty equipment," Shannon O'Hare, assistant city manager, said. She emphasized reliability concerns for fire and emergency vehicles and noted that mutual-aid and long-distance travel priorities can complicate an immediate shift to heavy-duty EVs.
Public safety partner progress: O'Hare described Central Marin Police Authority's (CMPA) ongoing electrification: "CMPA has purchased three marked ... electric Chevrolet Blazer police vehicles authorized in May," and additional marked electric trucks and cars are in service or on order. She said CMPA is working with PG&E on a project to upgrade electrical capacity and install chargers to make the site EV-ready for future fleet electrification.
Operational and resiliency questions: Forum members discussed how to maintain response capability during power outages and whether the city needs on-site fuel storage or battery/microgrid capacity. Participants pointed to microgrid and battery-storage grants in neighboring jurisdictions and potential local projects (library, police station, Piper Park) that could provide community backup power.
Equipment for parks and services: Staff said the city ordered an all-electric John Deere utility tractor for recreation work (quoted price range discussed informally as roughly $20,000–$25,000), and that electrified lawn and landscape tools are increasingly viable for some uses though larger commercial-grade mowers and heavy equipment still pose cost and performance questions.
What happens next: Staff will continue to monitor manufacturer progress on heavy-duty EVs, coordinate with CMPA and PG&E on charger infrastructure upgrades, and evaluate opportunities for battery storage and microgrids as part of resilience planning. The forum encouraged highlighting EV purchases publicly to raise resident awareness of the city’s transition.
