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South Coast AQMD Project Supports City of Los Angeles’ Fully Electric Lifeguard Fleet

South Coast AQMD has secured funding to support the deployment of two 26-foot fully electric workboat vessels for the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. This initiative advances a firstof- its-kind electric workboat deployment for the City’s Lifeguard unit operating at Cabrillo Marina in the Port of Los Angeles. The City’s lifeguard fleet plays a vital public safety role along Los Angeles beaches and harbor areas, providing ocean rescue, emergency medical response, vessel assistance, and marine patrol services.

The two battery-electric patrol vessels, manufactured by Voltari Electric, Inc. will replace two conventional combustion-powered boats currently used for emergency response and public-safety operations. Project funding was made possible through leveraged state and federal investments, including the Carl Moyer Program, the California Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Program, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Technology Initiative.

By deploying zero-emission commercial workboats, the City of Los Angeles is advancing its climate and clean air priorities while taking a significant step in modernizing its marine fleet and reducing emissions from coastal operations. Electrifying marine support vessels extends the City’s clean fleet strategy beyond on-road transportation and into maritime operations, reinforcing its commitment to reducing emissions across all sectors of municipal service.

The electric vessels will significantly reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and greenhouse gases in coastal and harbor environments. The project is also expected to improve safety and working conditions for lifeguard personnel, while reducing impacts on sensitive marine ecosystems.

This project represents an important step toward advancing state and local air-quality and climate goals and demonstrates how coordinated funding can enable early adoption of zero-emission marine technologies. South Coast AQMD’s support provides a replicable model for other coastal cities seeking to modernize public-safety fleets while improving air quality and protecting public health.