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City of Berkeley Receives Monarch MK-V Electric Tractor as First Municipal Customer
As a recognized trailblazer and changemaker, the City of Berkeley, California, did not need a New Year's Day to begin a new chapter. Nor is it waiting until 2035 to transition to zero-emission off-road equipment and vehicles – the year the State of California Executive Order N-79-20 has set for compliance. On December 19, 2023, the city took possession of a Monarch MK-V electric tractor. Berkeley is the first municipality in California, and the U.S. to purchase a Monarch Tractor. The California Air Resources Board reports that a new, gas-powered mower running for one hour produces similar emissions to the average passenger car driving for 160 km. The electrification of grounds maintenance equipment would improve local and regional air quality, enabling residents to enjoy the public health and environmental benefits of zero-emission EV equipment. For the City of Berkeley, deploying an MK-V for grounds maintenance will improve local air quality and support lower operating expenses by eliminating diesel costs and significantly reducing the maintenance costs associated with a combustion engine. “We had seen another electric tractor here in California, but it didn’t meet our needs,” said Melissa Marizette-Green, senior Landscape Gardener Supervisor, City of Berkeley Parks Division. “That tractor was not powerful enough to use the attachments that we use in our operations and the Monarch was everything we needed.” Between the expense of diesel, maintenance, and associated healthcare costs that come with air pollution from diesel emissions, municipalities have a lot to gain by electrifying their equipment. With a proven runtime of up to 14 h, swappable battery technology, and compatibility with current implements, Monarch is overcoming many of the voiced concerns over electrification. Monarch Tractor is excited to have a customer relationship with the City of Berkeley and looks forward to supporting the city and its residents with safer, healthier, and financially efficient grounds maintenance operations.
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In a move that maximized return on investment even more, the City of Berkeley took advantage of California’s Clean Off-Road Equipment (CORE) a voucher-based EV financial incentive. CORE allowed the City of Berkeley to purchase the MK-V for a minimum of 65% off the retail price rendering it cost neutral when compared to a similar-sized diesel tractor.
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