TheU.S.Postal Serviceplans toidentify new, more environmentally friendly vehicle technologies that are less dependent on petroleum-based fuel sources to replacethe195,000 neighborhood delivery vehicles of itstotal220,000 vehicles, the world�s largest civilian fleet.Today�s announcement came during a ceremony in which General Motors presented a Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell electric vehicle to the Postal Service for testing in a mail-delivery environment.
�We are looking for a vehicle that operates from a fuel source that reduces�or eliminates�our dependence on petroleum products, that is good for the environment, good for our customers and good for the Postal Service,� said Walter O�Tormey, vice president, Engineering, as he accepted the keys to the Equinox Fuel Cell that will be tested in Irvine, CA.
Moving forward with non-petroleum fueled vehicles is more important to the Postal Service than ever, O�Tormey said, since aone-cent increase in a gallon of fuel adds $8 million annually to Postal Service expenses. Fuel costs last year were $1.7 billion andare expected toincrease this year by $600 million.
�The Postal Service has been an invaluable partner, and they put our fuel cell vehicles through some tough, daily workouts,� said Mary Beth Stanek, director of energy and environmental policy & commercialization at General Motors. �We are gaining valuable insight on how these vehicles perform in demanding, real-world situations. By participating in Project Driveway, the Postal Service also is demonstrating the need to develop a hydrogen infrastructure to support fueling these vehicles.�
A hydrogen fuel cell vehicleis twice as efficientas an internal combustion engine andis uniquein that the fuel cell emits only water vapor which doesn�tharm the environment. Hydrogen�s greatest advantageas a fuel is that it can be made in many ways using both traditional and renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and biomass energy.
�We are very encouraged by GM�sfuelcell technology,� O�Tormey added. �Wealso want to explore other options,such as hybrid electric,plug-in hybridand other�green� vehicles that will help uscontinue toprovide our customers with reliable service while protecting the environment.�
The Postal Service leads the federal government in the number of alternate fuel vehicles it uses.More than 43,000canoperateon hybrid-electric, electric, compressed natural gas, liquid propane gas,ethanol (E-85), biodieseland hydrogen fuel cell.
