WASHINGTON, April 25 (UPI) — Incorporating hybrid vehicles into the U.S. government’s fleet will save it the cost of buying 1 million gallons of gasoline per year, an administrator said.
General Services Administration Acting Administrator Dan Tangherlini said the agency would expand its fleet of hybrid vehicles by up to 10,000 vehicles. This would save the government the cost of purchasing as much as 1 million gallons of fuel per year over the life of those vehicles.
“At a time when government needs to make every tax dollar count, GSA is committed to creating more energy efficiency and cost-saving opportunities like the fleet consolidation program that make government smarter and reduce our environmental footprint,” he said in a statement.
The U.S. Interior Department said it would team with GSA by replacing up to 300 vehicles in its fleet with hybrids.
“This is a simply a good business decision that will benefit not only our bottom line but reduce our carbon emissions as well,” Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said in a statement.
The U.S. Energy Department expects trends in vehicle efficiency could cut gasoline use in the transportation sector by 1 million barrels per day in 2035.
Corporate average fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicles will increase to 47.3 mpg by 2025, up from 32.6 mpg in 2011.
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