Greening Vehicles

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PG&E continues to actively incorporate more efficient and sustainable transportation technologies into its vehicle fleet. For more than two decades, we focused primarily on the use of natural gas as an alternative fuel and, more recently, began exploring the use of bio-diesel. We are currently investing in a range of electric and hybrid vehicles and other high-efficiency technologies to reduce emissions, dependency on petroleum-based fuels and operating costs.

Driving Innovation

As part of our commitment to reduce our operational footprint, we continue to incorporate innovative new vehicles into our fleet. This includes partnering with our bucket truck manufacturers to develop and test a first-of-its-kind plug-in battery-powered system that meets the operational needs of our fleet with a smaller environmental footprint. At the job site, the battery quietly and efficiently powers the truck’s hydraulic lift and heating and cooling equipment—avoiding the need to idle the vehicle.

This year, we added the nation's first all-electric bucket truck to the fleet. This vehicle joins all-electric service body trucks, flat bed trucks and service trucks, as well as more than 20 Chevrolet Volts and the first-ever purpose built extended range electric pickup truck. PG&E's fleet also includes approximately 1,000 compressed natural gas passenger cars, pickups, vans, and trucks.

To support these new vehicles, PG&E has installed about 50 new electric vehicle charging stations at different locations, with plans to add more as new vehicles come into the fleet. We are also adopting energy-efficient LED vehicle lighting as the standard for our fleet to reduce overall electricity use.

Engaging with Customers

At PG&E, we recognize that owning a plug-in electric vehicle is a significant purchase and we are helping our customers with this important transition. For example, our online calculator helps customers understand the potential costs and savings of plug-in electric vehicle ownership. Customers can enter information, such as their choice of vehicle, their average monthly usage and their charging schedule, and then see the projected electricity costs and gasoline savings.

PG&E also continues to support the use of alternative fuel vehicles by our customers with fleet vehicles. For example, we helped fund the purchase of California's first plug-in hybrid diesel-electric school bus in the Napa Valley Unified School District. PG&E has also used its expertise to help airport authorities, including San Jose International Airport, take advantage of alternative fuel vehicles.

Leveraging Training through the PowerPathway™ Program

In preparation for the addition of new hybrid and electric vehicles to PG&E's fleet, the PowerPathway™ Clean Tech Vehicle Training Network taught our fleet mechanics how to safely repair and maintain the new trucks and cars last year.

Using a "train-the-trainer" approach, PG&E master mechanics trained instructors at several community colleges, who, in turn, trained approximately 225 PG&E fleet mechanics. The partnership with community college instructors will also help take curriculum knowledge back to our communities. Instructors will be using the techniques gained from teaching our fleet mechanics and sharing it with their own students at local community colleges, developing technical skills and creating career paths.

Providing a Fueling Network

PG&E's network of natural gas fueling stations includes 34 compressed natural gas stations and one liquefied natural gas station, most of which are open to the public and serve transit districts, private refuse haulers, school districts, municipalities, air/seaports and other operators (taxi, package delivery, military and personal-vehicle owners).

Getting Results

The combined use of natural gas in PG&E's vehicle fleet, along with the fleets of our customers, avoided the use of more than 17.6 million gallons of petroleum last year, which equals the avoidance of approximately 780 tons of NOx, 60 tons of particulate matter and nearly 58,220 tons of CO₂ on a well-to-wheel basis.