Service Vehicles Plug Into Electric Alternative
As many car makers are coming out with electric and hybrid vehicle options that appeal to the average driver, there’s hope that more of these alternative fuel options will be seen on the streets of North America and worldwide. However, with so many service vehicles on the street still contributing to carbon emissions, the impact of regular drivers making the change to electric vehicles just might not be as beneficial to the carbon footprint if these fleet vehicles do not get on board. Stepping up to the plate and the challenge, and pledging to plug into the electric alternative are the government and other private businesses who have voiced intent to purchase electric vehicles my makers like Ford over the next few years.
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The United States Postal Service has already ordered 165 hybrid Chryser Town & Country Minivans, a plug-in model which will be available for purchase by the general public next year. The USPS has used pilot electric vehicles in their fleet for years, so it comes as no surprise that they would be among the first service vehicles to adopt the alternative fuel technology. Ford also claims to be taking orders from government sectors and private companies for their line of electric vehicles which will be available, created for them by Smith Electric Vehicles.
Eaton is another alternative energy provider that has been approached by other fleet vehicles looking to get a green upgrade to more environmentally friendly fuel alternatives. Fedex is one of the big private companies looking to make this change, and they’ve already deployed more than 100 hybrid-electric vehicles in New York alone, which will reduce not only their fuel costs but their carbon footprint as well.
As the government and various private sector businesses set an example through their use of alternative vehicle options, their mainstream acceptance will become more positively viewed, opening the doors for other businesses and private vehicle owners to make their own eco-friendly changes.
Via: Cleantech Blog
Image Via: Flickr User LugoLounge with a Creative Commons License
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