TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --
The days of purchasing gasoline-powered government owned vehicles (GOV) may be a thing of the past. Tinker Air Force Base is participating in a program that will transition its current fleet of GOVs from gasoline to all electric.
Oklahoma’s largest single-site employer is one of 50 military installations to participate in the Department of the Air Force’s Non-Tactical Vehicle Fleet Electrification Program including the U.S. Air Force Academy, Tyndall AFB, Joint Base San Antonio, Robins AFB and Hanscom AFB.
The Department of the Air Force is accelerating the integration of zero emission vehicles into government-owned and leased fleets following the release of its Climate Action Plan, which outlines major priorities to ensure it maintains the ability to fly, fight, and win in a changing operational environment. Zero emission vehicles also provide increased mission resiliency by diversifying the Air Force’s fueling capabilities.
The department aims to achieve 100% zero-emissions non-tactical vehicle acquisitions by FY35, including 100 percent zero-emission light-duty vehicle acquisitions by FY27. These targets align with Executive Order 14057: Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability, signed by President Joseph Biden on December 8, 2021. The order requires the Federal Government to lead by example to achieve a carbon pollution-free electricity sector by 2035 and net-zero emissions economy-wide by no later than 2050.
“We weren’t necessarily thinking that we were going to get funding in 2023,” said Marc Owen, General Engineer and Project Management OG&E Contract at Tinker AFB. “The funding was available, and we had the means to execute.”
The 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineering Directorate began researching EV feasibly in 2016 and deemed Tinker AFB would be a good candidate based on the mission.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to turn my head in building 3001 because I got a big mouth of exhaust,” said James Brown, Air Quality Program Manager with 72nd ABW Civil Engineering Directorate. “For the Air Force, the conversation makes a lot of sense, because with our fleet, it matches what we do much better.”
The first electric vehicle chargers were installed for GOVs in 2018, funded at the local level. The 72nd Air Base Wing Logistics Readiness Squadron has since added four Ford Lighting trucks and 13 various plug-in hybrid vehicles to the fleet.
The multi-million-dollar project will provide charging infrastructure to eventually support more than 100 chargers and a fully electric, non-tactical, vehicle fleet across the base.
“We looked at where the vehicles were stationed on base and their numbers,” said Brown. “After that, we determined the number of charging stations that would need to be installed. We then took a look at electrical service in the area, determined what current capacity existed, what limitations exist, and analyzed the best fit for CE and the installation mission partners.”
The transition to EVs will not happen overnight. Current vehicles will need to meet specific requirements for replacement.
“It is generally 20 years that you change a vehicle out or meet a certain mileage, but it can vary,” said Brown. “We are going to have to wait until it is time for those vehicles to get changed out. When the replacement cycle comes up, then we can change it out with an electric vehicle. Those come up every year. There are a fair number of vehicles on base.”
General Services Administration (GSA) leased vehicles are replaced between 5-7 years.