ART - Flex Fuel Vehicles 2009

The document discusses the challenges and benefits of using alternative fuels, specifically ethanol (E85), in fleet management. It focuses on the case study of Colorado Springs, which has been aggressively expanding its use of alternative fuels since 2003. The city has been using biodiesel in vehicles with diesel engines and has recently installed an ethanol fuel pump at its central fleet maintenance facility. More than half of the city's and utility department's fleets now operate on alternative energy, resulting in a reduction in carbon dioxide and particulate matter emissions. The document also provides information on E85 fuel and flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) that can run on gasoline or a blend of up to E85. It emphasizes the importance of assessing the infrastructure and costs associated with implementing FFV-oriented fleets. The document also briefly mentions the increasing use of biofuels and hybrid vehicles in major fleets in the US. Additionally, the document discusses the importance of procurement certifications for government employees and presents survey findings on the benefits of certification in terms of knowledge and skills improvement and career growth. The survey results indicate that the mean score on the knowledge and skills index was 80 out of 100, suggesting that the average response reflected a high level of understanding and competence.