Earlier this year, the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) demonstrated their continued commitment to improving air quality and fostering sustainable transportation with the approval of $4.2 million in Public Fleet Clean Air Grant funding. This initiative is designed to support local governments in their efforts to transition to cleaner fuel technologies, reduce emissions, and meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act and its amendments.
The Public Fleet Clean Air Grant program is funded through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program and the Carbon Reduction Program (CRP), both of which provide vital resources for state and local governments. ACOG’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) area administers these funds, offering competitive grants to help reduce air pollution and promote environmental health in Oklahoma.
Eligible projects under the program include converting public fleets to clean fuel technologies, acquiring alternative fuel or hybrid vehicles, and installing alternative fuel vehicle refueling or recharging infrastructure.
According to Eric Pollard, ACOG’s Air Quality & Clean Cities Manager, "ACOG received 9 strong projects all aimed at reducing emissions. These projects will demonstrate in a variety of situations how alternative-powered vehicles can meet or exceed the work expectations of conventional ICE vehicles. We are confident they will not only reduce emissions but also save entities money."
One of the awardees, the City of Nichols Hills, was granted $304,819 to support the purchase of three Canoo electric vans, one compressed natural gas (CNG) grapple truck, and two Level 2 electric vehicle chargers.
Canoo's product offers a lot that excites our team...and very notably, the price point for Canoo is incredible. - Shane Pate, Nichols Hills City Manager
The grant does not fully cover the purchase of the electric vehicles but rather offsets the difference in cost between conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles. This structure encourages local governments to embrace cleaner technologies without bearing the full financial burden of the transition.
Since 2009, ACOG has disbursed Public Fleet Clean Air Grant funds, helping communities across Central Oklahoma shift towards greener, more sustainable transportation.
Wanting to know we reached out to Shane Pate, the City Manager of Nichols Hills, to discuss the city's plans for integrating these Canoo vans into its fleet and how this initiative will contribute to long-term sustainability goals.
CANOOERS - How does the city intend to use the Canoo Electric Vehicles?
Shane: Our intended use for the vehicles will be for code enforcement (building inspectors) and water well operators.
CANOOERS - Is there a general time frame you expect delivery of the (3) Canoo vans to happen?
Shane: Quarter 3 or Quarter 4 of this year.
CANOOERS - Are the models anticipated to be solely Utility Van versions, and if so, will they be LDV 130 or LDV 190s or a mix?
Shane: Yes they will be LDV130s
CANOOERS - Will they come from Canoo as empty shells or will they come with custom/basic upfitting?
Shane: Basically empty shells
CANOOERS - I read somewhere that said Nichols Hills has one of the highest ratios of chargers per capita or something to that effect, can you expand on the city's history of pushing for the electrification of the fleet and public charging?
Shane: This data point is focused more on resident EVs. By Zip Code, more electric vehicles are registered in Nichols HIlls. However, the City does have an electric fleet transition plan that is well underway. We currently have three EV police cars, two hybrid police cars, three EV public works vehicles. The fleet transition was adopted before we had Canoo on our radar, so those vehicles were not yet incorporated into the plan. [see end of article for link to Nichols Hills EV adoption plan]
CANOOERS - I'd love to know more about the grant process as well. Did the city apply specifically to get awarded Canoo as a manufacturer or did that selection come into play later?
Shane: Our grant did specifically reference Canoo as the manufacturer
CANOOERS - Anything in particular about the Canoo design or tech you are excited about?
Shane: Canoo's product offers a lot that excites our team. The safety features are very impressive, particularly the increased visibility for the driver, the crash test demonstrations, and the innovative battery design. The storage features are also very attractive for our Public Works light fleet.
And very notably, the price point for Canoo is incredible. As you know, many EVs come with a big price tag at the moment, making a fleet transition impractical for a small local government without the use of grants from ACOG to pay the difference between ICE and EV vehicles. However, Canoo's products are already very competitive in the market, making the decision to go with them for this purchase very simple.
Nichols Hills’ strong endorsement of Canoo and its innovative design, combined with the competitive price point, signals that their vehicles are likely to become a popular choice for government and commercial fleets across the country.
With the city's commitment to sustainability and the arrival of these electric vans later this year, Nichols Hills is setting a clear example for how municipalities can embrace cleaner, cost-effective technologies to reduce emissions and modernize their fleets.
WATCH NOW: Canoo Bulldog and Lifestyle Vehicles spotted in Bentonville, Arkansas near Walmart Headquarters.
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