November 30, 2008
92% Of Fed’s Alt-Fuel Fleet Runs On Standard Gasoline
Over the past 16 years, the federal government’s EPAct has invested billions of dollars building a fleet of 112,000 alternative-fuel vehicles with the hope that the fleet would serve as an example for America to move away from its dependence of foreign fuel. However, the program is fraught with problems, Washington Post reports.
Under a mandate from Congress, federal agencies have gradually increased their fleets of alternative-fuels, with a majority capable of running on either gasoline or ethanol-based E85 fuel. But many of these vehicles were sent to locations far away from any alternative fueling site, resulting in standard gasoline still representing 92 percent of the fuel used in government’s alternative-fuel fleet, according to a Washington Post analysis of federal records.
When fleet managers searched for vehicles that would meet EPAct requirements, they found that the most affordable models were big flex-fuel sedans and SUVs, The Detroit News reports.
“They were bigger, they ran on gas, and they weren’t fuel-efficient,” said Mark Gaffigan, director of natural resources and environment with the Government Accountability Office, which completed a program audit last month. “If they had just bought regular vehicles that were more fuel-efficient, they would be better off.”
The U.S. Postal Service estimates that its 37,000 newer alternative-fuel delivery vans consumed 1.5 million additional gallons of gasoline last fiscal year due to larger engines.
But that energy waste doesn’t seem to be slowing down adoption. In July, the Postal Service announced it was participating in Project Driveway to identify new technologies in hopes of replacing almost 90 percent, or 195,000 of its delivery fleet, with non-petroleum fueled vehicles.
Last year, President Bush issued an executive order requiring federal agencies to shift federal fleets to plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Advertisers
Make sustainability part of your strategy.
Get equipped at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>
EFFECTIVELY MANAGE WATER COMPLIANCE
Understand how increased enforcement may affect your company. Find out more >>
EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st
CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>
Recent Daily News [ see all ]
- 11/06/2009
- 11/05/2009
- 11/04/2009
- Emissions Intensity Falling Globally
- JohnsonDiversey Ups GHG Reduction Target to 25%
- Sainsbury’s Offers Free London Electric Car Charging
- Carbon Trading Could Trigger a ‘Sub-prime Style’ Economic Crash
- Peabody, Exxon Accused of Undermining Climate Talks
- BMW, Toyota, Ford Tout Eco-cars
- In ‘Apathy Gap,’ Energy Efficiency at Home Ranks Low
- China Pushes for CO2 Storage, Not Emissions Reductions
- Clean Tech VC Funding On Rebound, Up 50% Since 2nd Quarter
- IECC Building Code Recommendations Add Up to 30% in Energy Efficiency Gains
- Disney Buys $7M in Reforestation Offsets, a Corporate Record
- McKesson to Save $300K Via Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
- Sprint to Save $2.1M With Eco-Friendly Packaging
- U.S. Export-Import Bank Adopts Carbon Policy to Support Renewable Energy
- Greening the Automotive Supply Chain
- Yokohama Rubber Cuts GHG Emissions 13.4% in 2008
- Electronics Industry Lawsuit Called ‘Attack on States’ Rights’
- Wal-Mart Adding LEDs to 650 Stores
- One Committee Down for Senate Climate Bill, Five More to Go
- EU Poised to Give Heavy Industry Free Carbon Permits
- ResponsibleTravel.com Scuttles Carbon Offsetting Option
- U.S. Cap-and-Trade Creates Winners and Losers among Largest Emitters
- DOE Awards $155M to Make Industrial Sector More Energy Efficient
- System Upgrades Power Up Energy Savings for Hotels
- Xerox Cuts GHG Emissions by 20% from 2002
- Waste Management Landfill Gas Project Complete
- Intel, Pepsi, Kohl’s Stay Atop Green Power Partnership list
- Wal-Mart Thinks Big With Smaller Stores
- Despite Critics, Gore ‘Proud’ to Invest in Green Firms
- Metal Recyclers Spar Over Ship Recycling Site
Industry Voices [ see all ]
A Roadmap for a Renewable Energy Partnership
Brad Cashaw
Vice President
Quaker Foods and Snacks Supply Chain and Sustainability
Forest Carbon Core to Climate Change Deal
Chris Elliott
Forest Carbon Initiative Lead
World Wildlife Fund
VCS and CarbonFix Tops in Review of Forestry Carbon Standards
Paulo Lopes
Carbon Management Consultant
Carbon Clear






Join the Discussion