The City of Covington is expanding its fleet with the addition of 15 new electric and hybrid vehicles across several city departments, including the police, fire and code enforcement departments.
The move follows an analysis from the city’s manager of analytics and intelligence, Todd Sink, earlier this year, which suggested that incorporating EVs and hybrids into the city’s 213-vehicle fleet could reduce maintenance and fuel costs. Sink’s analysis was based on an eight-year vehicle life cycle and estimated the city would save $122,408 over the course of eight years if it bought EVs instead of gas vehicles for the vehicles slated for replacement.
“This is not about converting the entire fleet overnight; this is about making smart, informed decisions when vehicles are already scheduled to be replaced, and asking whether electric options can help us save money while still meeting the needs of our departments,” Mayor Ron Washington said in a city press release. “We’re committed to being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars while also building a more sustainable future for Covington.”
As part of the pilot program, the city will purchase two 2026 Toyota Camry hybrids and seven electric Tesla Model Y SUVs for the Police Department. All of those vehicles will be upfitted for law enforcement use. On the other hand, the Fire Department will receive two Chevrolet Silverado EV trucks, and the Code Enforcement Department will receive four Chevrolet Equinox EV SUVs.