The City of Olympia received $11,000 from the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) to purchase its first electric vehicle.This purchase reflects the City’s commitment to look for innovative ways to lower emissions and reduce dependence on fossil fuel.Electric vehicles do not produce any green house gases and cost approximately one penny a mile to operate.This is the second time ORCAA has partnered with Olympia to improve the air quality in our region. Last year ORCAA awarded a grant to the City of Olympia to install catalytic converters on all heavy-duty construction equipment. 

Electric vehicles are powered by a battery that is replenished by plugging it into a common electric outlet. Although electricity production may contribute to air pollution, electric vehicles are considered zero-emission vehicles because their motors produce no exhaust or emissions. 

Ruth Snyder, a City inspector, will be using the new vehicle for her work in the downtown area and South Capital neighborhood. Keith Stahley, Director of Community Planning and Development points out that, “Vehicles that idle or do a lot of starting and stopping produce the greatest amount of emissions. Ruth’s work is a perfect application for an electric vehicle because the distance to and from the office is relatively short and she does a lot of short trips. Now she will be making difference, in that the electric vehicle will be reducing emissions.” Olympia is plugged into sustainability. Making a difference – one car at a time.

Visit our sustainability page to learn more about Olympia’s electric car and what Olympia is doing to support sustainability.