Savings Expected: Elmhurst Buys Electric Trucks

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst is buying two electric pickup trucks, which officials say will further the city's "sustainability" goals.

On Monday, the City Council voted to buy two Ford Lightning trucks for $93,157 from Haggerty Ford in West Chicago, which provided the lowest of three quotes. The highest was Roesch Ford in Bensenville, at $133,015.

The city is trading in two 2013 Ford F150 pickup trucks for $22,000. The older trucks each have about 55,000 miles and have cost about $15,000 in repairs over their lifespans.

Officials said they wanted to buy the electric trucks now because they happen to be ready for delivery. The market has seen unpredictable order windows in recent years, according to a city memo.

The trucks are set to be used in Elmhurst's forestry division, which is in charge of the city's public grounds and parkway trees.

The city said the electric vehicles are appropriate, given the forestry trucks' routine assignments, idle time at worksites, fuel consumption and maintenance costs.

At the council meeting, Alderman Rex Irby said he appreciated the decision to buy electric trucks.

"I'm elated ... in knowing that we're going to have some reduced costs on this vehicle, so I look forward to this test run trial with these two live vehicles in our fleet in the forestry division," he said. "I want to take my hat off to all those responsible for bringing this up."