AltWheels rolling into its 2nd decade; Fast Ford cruisers
The opportunity to both save money and get updates on the latest alternatively fueled vehicles is a strong lure for anyone in charge of a fleet of vehicles.
That’s the formula Alison Sander, founder and chairman of AltWheels, used as she celebrated her organization’s 10th anniversary earlier this month with its Fleet Day at the Four Points by Sheraton in Norwood.
“In 2012, alternately fueled vehicles represented just below 4 percent of the 14.5 million cars and light trucks sold,’’ she told a crowd of 250 fleet managers, exhibitors, and interested guests, “so despite our progress, we still have a long way to go.’’
Sander launched AltWheels in 2003 as a small display of alternatively powered vehicles at Larz Anderson Auto Museum.
The event has grown into a day-long symposium and exposition for fleet managers, for whom a 20 percent savings in fuel costs can be a huge budget consideration.
Sander’s oft-repeated reminder is that “AltWheels is committed to helping fleet managers realize that adopting alternative fuels can be coupled with cost savings—it’s the surest way for them to move their fleets in this direction.’’
To that end, there were 8 panel discussions and more than 20 vehicles on display, most of which also were available for test drives.
One of the encouraging aspects to the movement is that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is an active participant. Mark Sylvia, commissioner of the state’s Department of Energy Resources, was the opening speaker, and Stephen B. Russell, coordinator of the alternative transportation program, moderated a panel on 10 years of alternative fuels, including hydrogen, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), biodiesel, and ethanol.
The new Massachusetts license plate for EVs also was on display.
Advances aren’t limited to on-the-road vehicles. John Deere’s Don Masley was on hand with a hybrid front-end loader that promises a nearly 40 percent improvement in fuel economy.
“The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority now is running part of its bus fleet on BioFuel 20, which results in an increase of 1 to 2 miles per gallon, a big number when you consider the average bus gets 6 mpg,’’ says Russell.
Other trends include the growing use of natural gas (CNG and LNG) for long-haul trucking. “All of the Gulf Oil trucks delivering to Cumberland Farms stations now use LNG,’’ says Russell.
“In addition, we intend to convert our grocery delivery trucks to natural gas in the near future so we will be 100 percent natural gas-fueled,’’ says Gulf’s Laura Scott.
Police Cruiser Testing
Police departments all over the country look to the results of the Michigan State Police’s annual testing of vehicles available with law enforcement packages.
Ford, whose Police Interceptors have led the sales segment for the past 16 years, is reporting that its EcoBoost-powered sedans repeated as best-in-class for acceleration.
In addition, Ford’s Explorer-based utility interceptor with a new 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost topped the V-8-powered Chevy Tahoe.
This is a big factor for Ford because 60 percent of its police sales are the utility vehicles that are attractive to law enforcement agencies for the same reason the public likes SUVs: higher driving position, all-wheel-drive, and added space for gear and people.
Meanwhile, Dodge, which has had success with its Charger and Ram fleet vehicles, now is offering a “special service’’ version of the new Durango aimed at police, fire, and general fleet customers.
The new Durango, reviewed in this space recently by colleague George Kennedy, has a standard eight-speed transmission, a driving range of more than 600 miles with a 25 mpg highway rating, and can tow up to 7,400 pounds.
This Special Services model offers beefed-up components a lot of consumers would appreciate, such as a heavy duty brake package, battery, alternator, and water pump, plus an engine oil cooler and load-leveling suspension.
Etc.
The Green Car of the Year is an award presented annually at the Los Angeles Auto Show by the Green Car Journal. As the industry offers an increasing number of electric, hybrid, diesel, and high-efficiency gas-powered vehicles, the field of candidates grows. This year’s finalists are the Audi A6 TDI, BMW 328d, Honda Accord (with four powertrain options), Mazda3, and Toyota Corolla … Sound is hard to write about and doesn’t make for good video; however, if you do a You Tube search for Honda’s new Formula One engine, you can find an audio-only posting of that engine being fired up for the first time. The engine will be used in the McLaren Honda team car being prepared for the 2015 F1 season … Siri, Apple’s voice-recognition concierge, ignores most of my requests; however, she and Mrs. G are simpatico. Siri has worked so well as an Eyes Free service on the Chevy Spark and Sonic that she’ll now be available with MyLink on the Camaro, Cruze, Equinox, Malibu, SS, and Volt.
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