By Tyler Waugh / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The City of Mount Pearl has added some pieces to its vehicle fleet.
Council approved two separate motions last month totalling $434,537, plus HST – one for the purchase of five SUVs and one to buy three pickup trucks.
The purchases include a mix of new and replacement units including electric, gas and hybrid vehicles.
“As part of the City’s commitment to addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, various powertrain options were evaluated,” read a report prepared for council that was included in the June 23 agenda. “Although one fully electric vehicle will be purchased, existing servicing challenges within the City’s electric fleet make a full transition impractical at this time… A blended approach, incorporating electric, gasoline and plug-in hybrid vehicles, is recommended as a balanced fleet management strategy. This approach helps optimize operational availability while minimizing the risk of service disruptions due to maintenance delays.”
The City received four responses for the supply and delivery of five SUVs of various power configurations.
Council moved, as recommended by staff, to award a contract for two gasoline Chevrolet Trax SUVs to Terra Nova Motors for $74,324, plus HST, and a contract for one plug-in hybrid Ford Escape to Capital Ford for $44,772, plus HST, which was the lowest bidder.
However, as Capital Ford only had one of those vehicles, a contract for one plug-in hybrid Ford Escape also went to the second-highest bidder, Avalon Ford, for $49,214, plus GST.
Council also purchased one fully-electric Chevrolet Bolt from Hickman Motors for $42,959, plus HST.
“The nice thing about this is how it works out is that we’re kind of spreading it around a bit unintentionally,” said councillor Isabelle Fry.
The motion passed unanimously.
The City also received four responses for the supply and delivery of three pick-up trucks and the motion was made to award a contract to Avalon Ford, which was the lowest qualified bidder, for both the half ton regular cab 4x4 at a cost of $68,300, plus HST, and the two three-quarter ton crew cab 4x4 pick-up trucks at $77,484 each, plus HST.
One of the trucks is a new purchase and two trucks are replacements to ones in the existing fleet.
That motion passed unanimously as well.