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Commission discusses fleet electrification; proposal to buy four hybrid patrol cars fails after call for broader strategy
Summary
After a staff briefing and a presentation from Traverse City Light & Power on fleet modernization, the commission debated purchasing four hybrid police interceptors without a full citywide fleet strategy; a roll-call vote (3–2) failed to authorize the purchase.
Traverse City commissioners heard a staff briefing and a TCLP presentation on fleet modernization and incremental electrification Oct. 20 before voting on a proposed purchase of four hybrid police patrol vehicles.
TCLP Executive Director Brandy Ekran described the utility’s approach to decarbonizing operations, emphasizing incremental steps, fleet behavior analysis (routeing, idling), and pilot conversions while heavier-duty equipment matures technically. "If I'm asking my customers to electrify, I need to go through that experience as well," Ekran told commissioners.
City staff said hybrid patrol vehicles could offer near-term emissions reductions but acknowledged operational differences for police (range, mutual-aid distances and cold-weather battery performance). Several commissioners said a citywide, strategic fleet modernization plan is needed before standalone vehicle purchases.
A motion to purchase four hybrid interceptors from a local Ford dealer (purchase order not to exceed $35,580 each) was brought forward and failed on roll call: Commissioner Anderson — yes; Commissioner Tribol — no; Commissioner Shaw — yes; Commissioner Werner — no; Mayor Amy Shamro — yes (3–2 recorded by roll call in the transcript). After the vote, staff and TCLP agreed to continue collaborative planning on a citywide fleet strategy and to return with more quantitative cost-benefit data for future decisions.
The commission did not approve the vehicle purchase at this time.
