How Fort Lauderdale Built the Financial Case for an All-Electric Fleet

Fort Lauderdale ran the numbers on switching its city vehicles to electric and found that despite higher upfront prices, EVs save money over time. The city plans to convert all non-emergency, light-duty vehicles — about 600 cars, trucks, and vans — to electric by 2035, replacing gas vehicles with EVs as they reach the end of their normal seven-year lifespan rather than swapping everything at once.

The city's analysis found electric vehicles cost $5.4 million more to buy than gas equivalents, but save enough on fuel and maintenance to bring total seven-year costs down to $26 million, versus $30 million for gas vehicles. Most of the savings come from electricity and charging costing far less than gasoline, plus lower maintenance since EVs have fewer moving parts and less brake wear. The city built its own cost model using real data from its fleet rather than relying on generic estimates, and even assumed gas prices would stay flat — meaning the savings could be larger if fuel costs rise.

The city is starting with specific police vehicle types, like K9 units and investigator cars, where electric ranges already fit the job, and is building charging stations ahead of need. Its existing electric Leafs have logged under ten hours of downtime in seven years, which officials point to as evidence the vehicles hold up. For homeowners, this is less about a direct program than a sign that cities are finding electric vehicles increasingly cost-effective for everyday driving and fleet use, even before counting environmental benefits.