Last Updated: August 23, 2011
AT&T's 10-year commitment to a cleaner corporate fleet is rolling into new territory: AT&T today announced the deployment of the 4,000th alternative-fuel vehicle (AFV) in its corporate vehicle fleet - with more than 2,000 AFVs deployed in California alone. AT&T also announced that it has deployed its 3,000th compressed natural gas vehicle (CNG).
AT&T deployed its 4,000th AFV in Chicago, IL; its 3,000th CNG in Houston, TX; and the 2,000th AFV of its California fleet in San Diego. All of the milestone vehicles are Ford E250 CNG vans.
The deployments are the latest in AT&T's planned 10-year investment of up to $565 million to replace approximately 15,000 fleet vehicles with alternative-fuel models through 2018. Currently, the AT&T corporate fleet - which is part of the Department of Energy's Clean Cities' National Clean Fleets Partnership -features more than 71,500 vehicles and includes one of the largest U.S. corporate commitments to CNG vehicles to date. AT&T avoided the purchase of one million gallons of petroleum in 2010 as a result of its use of CNG vehicles.
"As the economy rises and falls with fuel prices, we have a responsibility to look for smart ways to reduce our costs," said Jerome Webber, vice president, AT&T Global Fleet Operations. "Putting 4,000 alternative-fuel vehicles on the road - including 3,000 compressed natural gas vehicles - is a significant statement about the ability of fleet operators to not only reduce costs, but also to cut vehicle emissions. Every alternative fuel vehicle on the road brings us closer to energy independence, and that's good for our company and our country."
Along with its fleet of CNG vehicles, AT&T is deploying all-electric and extended range electric vehicles in its fleet. AT&T fleets in St. Louis, Dallas and Los Angeles received the first of these vehicles. AT&T expects to make additional deployments in 2011 and 2012.
Through 2013, AT&T anticipates it will have purchased approximately 8,000 CNG vehicles at an anticipated cost of $350 million. AT&T expects to invest an additional $215 million through 2018 to replace approximately 7,100 fleet passenger cars with alternative-fuel models.
According to a 2009 Center for Automotive Research report, AT&T's planned alternative-fuel vehicle initiative would: - Save 49 million gallons of gasoline over the 10-year deployment period. - Reduce carbon emissions by 211,000 metric tons - the greenhouse gas equivalent of removing 38,600 passenger vehicles from the road for one year. - For more information about AT&T's sustainability efforts and to view a copy of AT&T's 2010 Sustainability Report, please visit www.att.com/csr .
Last Updated: April 07, 2011
Many people know that Staples is a serious competitor in the office-product supply industry. What they may not know is that the company is also a Massachusettes Clean Cities stakeholder leading the way in reducing petroleum consumption.
With $24 billion in sales in 2009 and a fleet of 2,200 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada, the movement of products is a big part of Staples' operations. And through its Staples Soul corporate accountability initiative, the company has made a commitment to transport its goods sustainably.
In 2006, Staples North American Fleet Equipment Manager Michael Payette began installing electronic speed control modules in Staples' medium-duty diesel delivery trucks. At a cost of only $7 per truck, the modules prevent the vehicles from traveling faster than 60 mph, improving their fuel economy from the industry standard 8.1 mpg to 10.1 mpg. Speed control, in combination with electronic idle reduction and driver training programs, has improved overall fuel economy in Staples' delivery fleet by 30%.
Today, all of Staples' trucks are equipped with speed control modules, and the company has saved a cumulative 2.9 million gallons of fuel and prevented the emissions of 32,000 tons of carbon dioxide. Staples' annual conventional fuel savings are approaching 1 million gallons.
At the project's start, some drivers worried the speed controls might get in the way of timely deliveries. But analysis by Staples found that driving time increased by only seven minutes per day. Furthermore, the extra time on the road was offset by less frequent trips to the fuel pump. And research by Staples' risk management department found no safety issues associated with limiting truck speed.
Staples is now working to further improve the fuel efficiency of its fleet by incorporating all-electric trucks in high-density urban delivery areas, diesel-electric hybrids in urban delivery areas, lighter composite materials in vehicle body construction, and dynamic routing software. Introduction of 53 all-electric trucks, manufactured by Smith Electric Vehicles, began in November 2010.
"Over time, we'll look to increase the number of these trucks in the Staples fleet as an effective way to service our delivery customers while reducing our carbon emissions," Payette says.
Last Updated: April 04, 2011
Boulder, Colorado, has made a city-wide commitment to alternative-fuel vehicles. Its lineup of flex-fuel police cars and light-duty pickups is a small sampling of the nearly 200 alt-fuel vehicles put into service since 2001. Along with E85, many of Boulder's maintenance trucks and street sweepers use B20 biodiesel. Propane is also part of the alt-fuel mix. Boulder also plans to convert 15 of their gas-electric hybrids to plug-in power. Charging stations will be installed around town with some of the current coming from solar energy.
Joe Castro, facilities and fleet manager of the City of Boulder Public Works, says, "We are looking at building a smarter electrical infrastructure with not only plug-in hybrids but also renewables, such as solar."
Nearly half of Boulder's fleet already is alt-fuel with a goal of 90%--a goal that will help ensure Boulder's Rocky Mountain view stays majestic.
Last Updated: March 21, 2011
The Austin, Texas, municipal fleet uses a wide array of alternative fuel vehicles including propane, biodiesel, hybrid electric, compressed natural gas, and E85. All play a part. Plus, EMS vehicles use solar panels to reduce wasteful idling. Austin's goal is a carbon-neutral city fleet by 2020. Almost 55% of their vehicles already use alt fuels with 30 new vehicles to go green next year.
"Anytime we can start using a renewable fuel source-an alternative fuel source that originates here in this country-then we're helping ourselves internationally in doing that. And we're helping the environment at the same time," says Austin Fleet Officer Gerry Calk. Austin also plans to add plug-in electric hybrids to its fleet and install EV charging stations around town to support them, making this once-oil-centric Texas capital among America's most alt-fuel-savvy cities.
Last Updated: March 07, 2011
The National Park Service is entrusted with preserving and showcasing America's natural wonders and historical landmarks, maintaining 392 national parks covering millions of acres of land and water in all parts of the country, and plays host to more than 275 million visitors every year. No other place on earth has this much natural diversity and spectacular scenery in one accessible place than America's first national park: Yellowstone.
So it's no surprise that this is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. More than a million private vehicles and three million people traverse the park during the six months it's open every year. Yet the very act of admiring the scenery or stopping for one of Yellowstone's infamous wildlife jams-those daily backups caused by elk, bison, and bears blocking the road or just spotted nearby-is endangering the pristine environment that makes this place so special.
To combat the problem, the Park Service is committed to alternative fuel vehicles as a major part of their environmental stewardship program. In fact, a biodiesel-powered 1995 Dodge Ram pickup was the National Park Service's first alt-fuel vehicle, and it's still in service in Yellowstone with over 200,000 miles on its clock. Ask stakeholders in the Department of Energy's Clean Cities program: Yellowstone leads by example. All of their heavy vehicles run on biodiesel blends up to B40 in the summer. The park fleet also contains a number of flex-fuel E85 vehicles, advanced technology hybrids, and a few small electrics.
But park management is also looking to the past for inspiration. Jim Evanoff of the National Park Service explains, "Yellowstone had a very unique transportation operation prior to World War II, when we had a fleet of yellow buses. We had close to 400 of these old yellow buses that would transport people as they got off the trains in Gardiner and West Yellowstone and take them into the park. And most importantly, there was a driver that was very well educated and well versed in interpreting all the park's features to the visitors. After World War II, America fell in love with the private automobile and the station wagon, and nobody wanted to ride in these old yellow buses anymore, and they were slowly put out of service."
Amazingly, at its peak, Yellowstone was the second largest bus company in the nation behind Greyhound. Now, to reduce the volume of vehicles on the park's roads, Yellowstone has commissioned a small fleet of new biodiesel-powered yellow buses to use as employee shuttles and to serve as clean fuel ambassadors in nearby communities. The park has also acquired and refurbished eight of the original old yellow buses and put them back into service-once again giving guided tours in portions of the park.
Yellowstone is not as well suited to mass transit as other national parks, though. Parks with limited access or a single tourist attraction can more easily corral visitors' cars in one place and make use of shuttles. Glacier National Park's famous vintage red tour buses are still in daily use, plying visitors over the road to the sun. And they were retrofitted a number of years ago to run on clean propane while modern tour buses at Mammoth Cave National Park and others around the country are running on clean alternative fuels as well. Evanoff explains, "We're not just looking at alternative fuels but also looking at more green procurement. We're looking at water conservation opportunities, renewable energy such as from the sun or falling water.
Other park programs, like recycling and composting and a new partnership with Michelin to test low-rolling resistance tires, all tie together to reduce vehicle use, lower emissions, and save fuel. And the National Park Service hopes the influence of their good example extends beyond the park gates.
Last Updated: February 28, 2011
The American Cancer Society's Camp Discovery in Kerrville, Texas, is designed for kids who have been battling various forms of cancer. The kids got to help build an electric dune buggy. ACE Technologies, a local engineering consulting firm, helped design the EV kit using an ATV chassis.
The gas engine was replaced by an electric drive system that uses a lithium-ion battery pack and solar panel. The two-seater has a top speed of 55 miles per hour with a range of 30 miles. Project coordinators found the kids learned a huge lesson in EV technology. According to Gary Krysztopik, of ACE Technologies, "That's what we wanted to show the kids, too-that it's very simple. You've got a bunch of batteries and an electric motor, and you connect them up, and it turns, and you go. And that's the beauty of electic vehicles, they're so simple."
The Alamo Area Clean Cities coalition helped raise funds to build this one-of-a-kind dune buggy. James Houseman won the auction with a generous bid of $15,000--benefitting the San Antonio chapter of the American Cancer Society.
Last Updated: December 01, 2010
In 1999, Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky made a commitment to use E85 ethanol in its small fleet of flex-fuel vehicles and installed their own refueling station. Today, more than a decade later, all of the park's 41 vehicles run on alternative fuels, including biodiesel, propane, and electricity.
The park has converted six school buses from gasoline to propane. They take nearly 175,000 visitors a year to cave entrances. Rangers use these gem all-electrics to patrol campgrounds and assists with parking.
For years, Melissa Howell from the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition has worked closely with the park to develop a strong alternative-fuel program?an effort that fits in perfectly with the National Park Service's mission to protect and preserve our country's most vital natural resources.
Last Updated: November 20, 2010
The City of Denver designed the sprawling Denver International Airport to be green from the start with compressed natural gas fueling stations and an underground baggage tunnel system that allows only CNG and electric vehicles.
CNG tugs are used for baggage handling, and the yellow, all-electric E-Ride used for trash removal. This Miles electric vehicle is currently being evaluated for tunnel use. All vehicles have to test clean on a dynamometer before a tunnel permit is issued.
There are also over 100 CNG light-duty maintenance trucks along with 180 bi-fuel gasoline/CNG trucks. The newest additions in Denver are police mobility vehicles. The all-electric PMVs look like Segways on steroids and are being used for traffic control.
CNG also powers employee, rental car, and parking lot shuttles, as well as airfield sweepers. It all makes for a versatile lineup of cleaner, greener vehicles working their way around DIA.
Last Updated: May 19, 2010
MotorWeek success story this week takes us back in time to Colonial Williamsburg, where natural gas-powered transit buses seem a bit out of place in this hotbed of 18th-century Americana. The popular living-history museum has been using alternative fuel vehicles to transport visitors since 1995. Their bus service center--just down the road--houses close to 20 buses with an easy-to-use CNG filling station nearby.
Colonial Williamsburg also uses three electric mini-trucks for their landscaping and hotel maintenance needs. The pint-sized vehicles can only go 25 miles an hour--an ideal speed for travel on Williamsburg grounds. Workers plug into a regular outlet to charge their batteries overnight and can use it the following morning for a full day's work.
Colonial Williamsburg has been at the forefront of the alt-fuel movement--combining our love of America's past with greener technologies for America's future.
View the MotorWeek video of this story.
Last Updated: April 22, 2010
An electric bus customized to look like a historic Bakersfield, California, electric trolley recalls a bygone era while giving a green boost to downtown businesses. Pacific Gas and Electric donated the refurbished bus. The free-ride, 22-passenger trolley makes six stops along its one-mile loop. Powered by 40 deep-cycle, lead-acid batteries, it has a range of 60 miles. Saving 1,250 gallons of petroleum fuel every 10,000 miles, this novel clean vehicle is a joint effort between local government and private enterprise--as well as a reminder of the past. Clean Cities coordinator Linda Urata says, "It's been renovated, so it looks like an old downtown trolley. We used to have electric trolleys that ran here 100 years ago around the turn of the century so it's kind of like everything old is new again. No wonder Bakersfield residents are so charged up by this true hometown solution to saving fuel and reducing pollution. View the MotorWeek video.
Last Updated: November 10, 2009
The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., has 160 vehicles that run on alternative fuels, including five low-speed electric vehicles. Two of the electric vehicles are used for on-campus mail delivery. OU also operates 43 electric utility vehicles and golf carts on campus sidewalks and paths that are used by maintenance and physical plant staff.
Beth Gatewood, OU assistant administrator of printing, mailing and document production, said the low-speed electric vehicles save the time and expense of refueling and are ready to go after recharging outside her building. "Besides being fun and quiet," Gatewood said, "we can get in all the small places on campus we need to squeeze through."
Central Oklahoma Clean Cities stakeholders since 1995, the University of Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Services, which includes Fleet Services operations and Cleveland Area Rapid Transit (CART), fuels 53 flex-fuel sedans and SUVs with E85, 41 heavy duty trucks and CART buses with B20, and 15 heavy duty and light-duty passenger vehicles and shuttle buses with CNG at its new Transportation Operations Center, a multi-fuel, state-of-the-art fueling, maintenance and operations facility. The center has four fast-fill CNG hoses at 3600 psi, and eight slow-fill CNG hoses in addition to four pumps for biodiesel and ethanol.
The university also has three hybrid electric passenger cars in its fleet that fuel at the facility which also dispenses gasoline and ultra low sulfur diesel.
At the official opening of the Transportation Operations Center in March 2009, OU President David Boren said the university is committed to the environment and the new Transportation Operations Center is a symbol of that commitment. Boren has made it university policy if an alternative fuel vehicle is available for the type of vehicle needed, the university will purchase the AFV.
OU Fleet Services plans to add five CNG buses to the CART fleet with 2009 federal stimulus money and will purchase and convert two new Chevrolet Impalas with assistance from an award from the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments' 2009 Public Fleet Conversion Grants program. ACOG's Public Fleet Conversion Grants? program is administered through its Clean Cities program office.
Last Updated: November 05, 2009
The New York City Department of Sanitation, the nation's largest municipal refuse fleet, is making great strides in using clean, alternative fuels. Among the array of vehicles is the hybrid hydraulic garbage truck, the only one in the country in its weight class. The agency is also testing hybrid electric and natural gas powered refuse trucks.
NYC's 2,000 other diesel refuse trucks run on renewable B5 biodiesel as do 450 of their street sweepers. Another 25 are fueled by compressed natural gas, and the alt-fuel list continues with hundreds of light duty gasoline-electric hybrids used by field supervisors along with 6 all-electric GEMs that move around the repair shop.
Collecting 22 million pounds of garbage a day using vehicles that are less dependent on petroleum is how NYC's Department of Sanitation is keeping it "clean and green" in the Big Apple. View the MotorWeek video of this story.
Last Updated: October 27, 2009
Chattanooga, Tennessee, sits between a river and a mountain, and the downtown corridor stretches about two miles north to south and between 6 and 10 blocks east to west. The corridor includes the museum district along the riverfront, the business district, and the main shopping district. The Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) was formed as part of a city renaissance program and CARTA decided to switch to electric shuttle buses to transport residents and tourists.
The fleet of 15 22-foot electric shuttle buses run at 5-minute intervals and the ride is free. CARTA transit authorities estimate that the vehicles have covered more than 2.5 million miles saving an estimated 86 tons of pollutants. CARTA also financed and built parking structures at both ends of the route to intercept automobile traffic before it reached the downtown corridor.
Former Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater acknowledged that Chattanooga's innovations in streamlining the connections between automobiles and transit, and introduction of electric buses and other alternative-fueled vehicles as a major contributor in "reducing traffic congestion, protecting the environment, enhancing mobility and revitalizing communities." For more information, contact CARTA.
Last Updated: October 08, 2009
Electric vehicles are currently performing a wide variety of off-road functions at warehouses and airports. eTug, LLC has built two electric baggage tractor models that can tow as many as five loaded baggage carts from the terminal to airplane loading gates. eTugs are currently being operated by airlines and ground handling companies at six different airports and more are being evaluated.
The eTug DC-20 model can tow up to 20,000 lbs. and operates on direct DC drive. The eTug AC-30 model has a 30,000-lb. capacity, operates on AC current, and like the DC-20 model, can be charged at a standard 110v outlet or a fast charge station. Regenerative braking, on-board battery charger, backup alarm and rear inching switch are standard on both models.
According to Neil Bennett, president of eTug LLC, "Even if companies are under mandates to switch to environmentally friendly operation, it's hard for companies to spend money during difficult economic times. Our machines operate on zero emissions and offer savings from the first day of operation that directly affect the bottom line. Electric charging costs nine cents for an hour of operation while a gas or diesel tug costs in the three- to four-dollar range for the same hour of operation." Leasing is another option, costing $900 per month compared to $2,200 or more in operating costs of a gasoline vehicle.
"Environmental compliance and reduced fuel costs are available in the off-road sector," Bennett said. "Electric vehicles offer versatility and function at a low cost per unit. Contact Neil Bennett for more information about eTug applications.
Last Updated: June 01, 2009
Diversity on campus has a new meaning in Chicago. The University of Illinois-Chicago's (UIC) transportation system for innercampus and commuter transport includes a variety of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). The fleet includes 12 light-duty hybrids, 37 flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), 26 vehicles that operate on B20, two compressed natural gas (CNG) cargo vans, and a CNG Crown Victoria. In addition, nine CNG Blue Bird buses transport an average of 2,000 people daily around the campus. All in all, AFVs represent 36% of their fleet.
With the help of two Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grants received through the efforts of the Chicago Area Clean Cities coalition, the university installed CNG infrastructure. "We now have two slow-fill dispensing units and we have added two quick-fill CNG units," says Pablo Acevedo, associate director of facilities management at UIC. The university's program extends its reach even farther by allowing vehicles owned by the City of Chicago to fill up at the UIC facility.
Acevedo explains that there are pluses and minuses to his CNG vehicles. "Parts and maintenance are more costly for the CNG vehicles than for regular diesel vehicles. It's also important to get the right kind of training for our mechanics who work on the CNG vehicles." On the plus side, the AFVs use less expensive fuel and reduce pollution caused by burning diesel.
The CNG and FFVs are purchased based on mandated levels dictated by the state and alternative fuel provider section of the Energy Policy Act of 1992. The CNG-powered vehicles were first purchased in 1997. "The decision back then was based on cost savings and environmental concerns," Acevedo says. "Those are the same reasons we continue to add CNG vehicles to our fleet."
There's always room for more advanced vehicles--and UIC is interested in the all-electric, commercial Ford Transit Connect van, which is expected to have a range of 100 miles per charge and a top speed of 70 miles per hour.
"UIC's commitment to its alternative fuel program and its involvement in the coalition make it an exemplary fleet in the Chicago area," says Chicago Clean Cities Coordinator Samantha Bingham. "We are happy to assist UIC as well as other coalition members with everything from technical assistance to identifying funding."
Last Updated: March 18, 2009
The Chicago and Seattle city governments use the electric Segway Personal Transporter to boost worker efficiency, cut petroleum consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The City of Chicago, one of the technology's earliest adopters, owns 77 Segways. The police and aviation departments use them to patrol large areas such as parks and O'Hare International Airport. For police officers, the Segway provides the mobility and speed of a motorized vehicle while maintaining the friendliness of a walking beat. "You can drive and still interact with the citizens," says one Chicago police officer. City medical personnel and litter collectors also use Segways.
The City of Seattle operates 18 Segways. Utility department employees use them to check water meters, eliminating the need for cars on some residential routes. The Parks Department uses Segways to patrol parks and move between buildings. A city fire inspector, who had developed knee problems from walking his route in a concrete football stadium was able to remain on the job by choosing a Segway over a gasoline-powered golf cart and, as a bonus, prevented further joint problems. Parking Enforcement Officers are using Segways to patrol several downtown neighborhoods. Employees can also check out a Segway from Seattle's motor pool to travel to nearby meetings.
Feedback from Segway users has been positive. Seattle fleet engineer Matt Rathke says he regularly receives Segway training requests. The Segway's all-electric operation eliminates gasoline use and emissions in both cities, and the fleets report saving money on fuel and maintenance. Chicago estimates that a Segway's annual maintenance costs are 20 times lower than a car.For more information, contact Eileen Joyce, Public Information Officer, Fleet Management, at eileenjoyce@cityofchicago.org, and Matt Rathke, Seattle Fleet Management, at matt.rathke@seattle.gov.
Last Updated: August 22, 2007
In June 2002, the Greater New Haven Transit District (GNHTD) in Connecticut began operating four Ebus -22-foot, fully electric trolley replica vehicles. Powered by nickel cadmium (flooded) batteries, the trolleys emit zero emissions and can transport a maximum of 22 passengers. Two of the trolleys operate seven hours a day, six days a week on a downtown New Haven circular route. One trolley also runs an additional two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening, carrying people from various business buildings to parking lots.
The trolleys are each nearing 40,000 miles of operation and have an operational readiness rate that's greater than 90%. Using the electric trolleys instead of conventional diesel buses "improves the air quality in an area that is out of compliance with ozone and particulate matter, as well as decreases dependence on foreign petroleum," says Donna Carter, GNHTD executive director. "We are very pleased to be able to keep these trolleys, which were built to run in sunny California, on the streets of chilly New Haven in the dead of winter." GNHTD estimates that, so far, the trolley fleet has displaced 10,000 gallons of petroleum diesel fuel. Route expansions and refinements are currently being explored to offer better connections between local rail service, work locations, and tourist sites in the downtown area. The City of New Haven and the Greater New Haven Transit District are working together to secure funding for expansion of its alternative fuel vehicle fleet to serve the growing need for increased public transit options downtown.
For more information, visit the New Haven Transit District website or contact Donna Carter, Greater New Haven Transit District.
Last Updated: August 22, 2007
In 2001, the Port of Seattle Aviation Division adopted a fleet vehicle purchase policy that required the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), whenever feasible and practical, to replace conventional petroleum vehicles. The Seattle Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport's fleet is currently composed of 60 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, including 16 buses and 41 light-duty vehicles (LDVs)--all of which display the slogan "Doing our share for cleaner air naturally." Sea-Tac's fleet also includes seven propane LDVs, nine hybrid LDVs and 91 ground support units that operate on electricity. In 2005, the Sea-Tac Airport received the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Excellence Award in recognition of the implementation of air quality programs such as the fleet vehicle purchase policy.
The Port required airport taxi and shuttle services to switch to CNG vehicles. Shuttle Express currently has 27 CNG shuttle vans serving the airport. Shuttle Express operates more than 33% of its total trip mileage using the CNG vans. The Seattle-Tacoma International Taxi Association operates all of its 166 taxi cab fleet with CNG-fueled Ford Crown Victorias. The Port of Seattle's Air Quality website reports that the CNG fleet is expected to produce 149 fewer tons of carbon monoxide and 24 fewer tons of oxides of nitrogen each year compared to conventional vehicles.
The Port partnered with Clean Energy to install, operate, and maintain a full-service CNG fueling station at Sea-Tac, which is open to the public and operates 24 hours a day. Sea-Tac currently has plans to add an additional public CNG fueling station, as well as increase the number of CNG buses in its fleet.
For more information, contact Russ Simonson, senior environmental program manager, Port of Seattle, Aviation Division, at simonson.r@portseattle.org.
Last Updated: August 22, 2007
Located near Eureka, California, the Redwood National and State Parks are currently using a variety of alternative fuels in its fleet. They are using biodiesel (B20) to operate 32 heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) used for park maintenance. The park also uses five light-duty electric vehicles and two Toyota Prius hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) for light maintenance and park transportation. In addition, the park has an electric tractor vehicle used to haul cleaning supplies to the restrooms, pick up and transport garbage, and to perform routine maintenance work. "The electric tractor is quieter than a conventional vehicle, and it does not disturb the wildlife as much," says Roads and Trails Supervisor Richard Mayle.Redwood National and State Parks currently has an onsite biodiesel (B20) refueling station. "Biodiesel is inconsistent because it usually takes a few weeks to get a shipment to our remote location. Sometimes the fuel arrives in a few days and other times it takes a couple of weeks," says Mayle. "Biodiesel also costs a little bit more than conventional fossil fuel diesel, but we have noticed that biodiesel is cleaner and seems better for the environment."
For additional information, visit the Redwood National and State Parks website or contact Richard Mayle at richard_mayle@nps.gov.