Officials received keys to the City’s first fully electric medium-duty truck this morning at Portland Water Bureau’s Maintenance and Operations yard.
“Transportation has always been close to my heart,” Mayor Keith Wilson said shortly before jumping into the cab to be the first at the City to drive the Freightliner eM2. “By powering essential services with electricity, we champion equity by improving air quality in every neighborhood and strengthening our resilience to climate change.”
The event brought together Mayor Wilson, Deputy City Administrators Donnie Oliviera and Priya Dhanapal, CityFleet Director Mike Roy, and representatives from Daimler Truck of North America, the local manufacturer behind the custom-built EV.
“This first unit will be a catalyst for future EV builds for the City of Portland fleet,” said Michael Roy, Director of CityFleet.
The truck will be fitted with the Water Bureau’s existing saw cutting body, replacing a diesel-powered unit and reducing emissions and noise in Portland’s neighborhoods. The vehicle was designed in collaboration with engineers from Daimler Truck to meet the City’s unique operational needs, including a shorter wheelbase for a tighter turning radius and higher visibility in urban environments.
Funding for the purchase came from a Clean Diesel Emissions Mitigation grant from the State of Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality and the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF).
“When the City purchases an electric vehicle, we are investing in clean energy jobs—from those designing and manufacturing these vehicles to those installing charging infrastructure to those training and hiring specialty technicians to work on these vehicles,” noted Donnie Oliveira, Deputy City Administrator for Community and Economic Development, where PCEF is housed.
“Innovation matters most at street level, where our crews are maintaining pipes and serving Portlanders directly,” said Priya Dhanapal, Deputy City Administrator for Public Works, which includes the Water Bureau. “This electric truck cuts pollution in our neighborhoods and proves that electric vehicles can meet the demanding, real-world needs of our municipal operations. It is one more step toward Portland’s net-zero carbon goal by 2050 and toward a healthier, more resilient city.”
