The decades-long efforts for municipalities to opt for electric vehicles (EVs) was, until recently, driven primarily by intentions to improve the environment. Lately, however, given the cost of gasoline, economics is joining that motivator. Kenny Cooper, WHYY, drove this story on Lansdale’s next-level EV initiatives.

Lansdale’s swap to EVs (it now operates three of them) resulted from some fortuitous timing:

• The borough’s aging fleet was ripe for replacement
• Its coffers were flush with grant funds from a Volkswagen diesel-engine settlement, which covered the price difference between traditional combustion engines and battery-powered ones

“We felt that having a couple of fleet vehicles that were electric-powered would be perfect for our needs here,” Borough Manager John Ernst said.

To support usage in the private sector as well, Lansdale has installed electric charges across its neighborhoods, positioning them strategically and conveniently.

And in an initiative of even greater environmental impact, it has equipped two chargers with the ability to juice up cars using solar power.

Among the initiative’s many upsides is its role in burnishing the image of local government.

“We wanted to set a standard and let the communities and the public see that we’re doing our part to become sustainable and saving money and saving fuel,” Ernst said.

More on suburban Phila. support for electric vehicles is at WHYY.