ZEV & HYBRID FIRST PURCHASING MANDATE - 4121.1

ZEV & Hybrid-Electric Alternative Fuel Vehicle First Purchasing Mandate

Beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2017/2018, state agencies are required to prioritize purchasing of ZEVs (including Battery Electric, Fuel Cell, and Plug-In Hybrid) and Hybrid-Electric Alternative Fuel Vehicles (Hybrid AFVs), in designated light-duty vehicle categories where programmatically feasible. These purchases shall be prioritized over light-duty vehicles that are powered solely by internal combustion engines utilizing fossil fuels and flex-fuel vehicles or bi-fuel vehicles powered by petroleum based fuels and other alternative fuels, such as ethanol.  Designated light-duty vehicle categories subject to this policy are listed on the Department of General Services (DGS), Office of Fleet and Asset Management’s (OFAM) website. The ZEV/Hyrbrid First purchasing requirement exists in addition to a department’s annual, light-duty ZEV purchasing requirements.

When submitting a fleet acquisition plan (FAP) to DGS for the acquisition of additional or replacement vehicles, as mandated in SAM Section 4120, state agencies shall select vehicles in light-duty categories subject to this policy based on the following priority structure:

Priority 1: Pure ZEVs (Battery Electric & Fuel Cell Vehicles)

Priority 2: Plug-in Hybrid ZEVs

Priority 3: Hybrid-Electric Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Priority 4: Internal Combustion and Bi/Flex-Fuel Vehicles

If requesting a vehicle subject to this policy in a Priority level other than Pure ZEV, agencies must be able to sufficiently demonstrate and justify why their programmatic transportation requirements could not be satisfied with a vehicle from each higher Priority level. Each requested drop in Priority level must be fully justified in accordance with criteria outlined in the “ZEV & Hybrid Priority Level Exemptions” section below.

This requirement does not apply to requests for vehicles with special performance requirements necessary for the protection of public safety and welfare.

ZEV & Hybrid Priority Level Exemptions

Agencies requesting exemptions from ZEV and Hybrid AFV Priority levels must submit justifications and/or certifications, in accordance with the guidelines below, with the agency’s Fleet Acquisition Plan (FAP) for each vehicle being exempted. To be approved for exemption from a Priority level, vehicles must meet one of the exemption criteria listed for that Priority level and agencies must provide the certification and/or justification required for that specific exemption.

Priority 1: Pure ZEVs (Battery Electric & Fuel Cell Vehicles)

Exemptions

• Range Limitations: vehicle requested is used more than 72 times in a 12-month period, or 36 times in a 3-month period, for trips lasting less than 24 hours that exceed the mileage range of the Pure ZEV on contract in that vehicle category, or;
• Charging/Fueling Availability: vehicle requested is used more than 72 times in a 12-month period, or 36 times in a 3-month period, for trips lasting more than 24 hours in locations with limited and/or unreliable fueling/charging stations, or;
• Cargo/Passenger Capacity: vehicle requested has a demonstrated need for cargo/passenger capacity that exceeds the capacity available in the Pure ZEV on contract in that vehicle category.

Required Certifications/Justifications

• Range Limitations
  • Directorate level certification, to be included on the FAP Certification, that the vehicle(s) being requested will be used more than 72 times in a 12- month period, or 36 times in a 3-month period, for trips lasting less than 24 hours that exceed the mileage range of the Pure ZEV on contract in that vehicle category, or;
• Charging/Fueling Availability
  • Directorate level certification, to be included on the FAP Certification, that the vehicle(s) being requested will be used more than 72 times in a 12- month period, or 36 times in a 3-month period, for trips lasting more than 24 hours in locations with limited and/or unreliable fueling/charging stations, or;
• Cargo/Passenger Capacity
  • Narrative justification demonstrating why the cargo/passenger capacity of a Pure ZEV on contract would not meet the agency’s operational needs. Justification must be comprehensive and should include the following:
    • Narrative describing the vehicle’s operational function and what about that function requires an increased cargo/passenger capacity, and;
    • Detailed interior space or trunk space requirements, including the number of people being transported and/or a detailed listing of the items being transported that require increased space.