More Electric Vehicles on the Way for WAPA

The Water and Power Authority CEO Andrew Smith told the authority’s governing board Thursday that the WAPA vehicle fleet was being modernized. A lot of modernizing arrives next week with seven electric pickup trucks — Ford 150s.

Ford started production of more environmentally friendly versions of the United States’ most popular pickup in 2023. According to various websites, the cost of driving the electric F-150 pickup each year is about 30 percent less than that of a regular truck. However, savings depend on the price of gasoline and the cost of electricity. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the cost of electricity is over three times the average cost on the continent. Gasoline is higher in the territory but not three times higher. Different websites estimate the truck will travel two miles for one kWh charge.

WAPA’s use of electric vehicles instead of gasoline vehicles increases its customer base. It has recently lost customers because homes and businesses are producing their own energy.

According to Don Gregoire, director of Water Service for WAPA, other pieces of the modernization of the fleet include eight Teslas, three hybrid compact SUVs, a hybrid bucket truck, and a hybrid digger already owned by WAPA.