The City of Richmond received national recognition last month for its electric vehicle policies and jumped 21 spots in a national ranking of sustainable municipal fleets.

The NAFA Fleet Management Association presented Richmond with its Best Electric Vehicle Policies 2025 award in August at the Sustainable Fleet Technology Conference in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The award recognizes the city’s electric vehicle replacement policy, equipment operating procedures and fleet electrification efforts. 

Richmond also ranked 16th on NAFA’s list of the top 50 green fleets nationwide, up from 37th place in 2024. The city ranked first among Virginia municipalities. 

“We are honored to be considered a national leader in the shift toward electric,” Mayor Danny Avula said. “Although we are proud of how far we have come, we remain committed to forward progress and will continue to invest in policies that reduce emissions, improve efficiency, and deliver on our promise for thoughtful environmental stewardship.” 

The recognition stems from policies developed by the city’s interdepartmental Joint Energy Team, including five comprehensive electric vehicle charging contracts implemented over the past year. 

Laura Thomas, director of the Office of Sustainability, said the ranking improvement reflects collaboration between her office and the Department of General Services, along with external partners. 

“ M o v i n g from 37th to 16th in just one year is a tremendous achievement and is a testament to just how seriously we are taking our sustainability efforts,” Thomas said. 

The NAFA ranking evaluates municipal fleets on electrification progress, fuel reduction and implementation of sustainable practices. More information about Richmond’s sustainability initiatives is available at rva.gov/sustainability.