The Army’s Energy Savings Plan

4000 electric powered vehicles

We all suffered over the past couple years, as gas prices around the country climbed. The cost of gasoline in the area of the country I live in, soared to over $4 a gallon, with much higher prices in other parts of the country. All over the US, people avoided trips that they might have normally taken, due to the increased price of gas.

Not only did these high gas prices affect our driving habits, but they also affected the cost of heating our homes in the winter. The Army, recognizing the vast amount of fuel they were consuming, both in the US and to support the war on terror on two fronts, has undertaken ways to save on fuel, as well as create a much cleaner environment. Also recognizing that the Army relies on vast quantities of fuel to power the vehicles that are driven and the fact that much of that fuel comes from the Middle East, the Army has been investigating alternative fuel sources.

Recently, in an attempt to decrease the dependence on oil based products, the Army took possession of 4,000 electric powered vehicles. This acquisition is a part of a strategy that could ultimately supply as many as 28,000 electric vehicles to over 155 installations. This is part of a long term initiative that will be administered through partnership with General Services Administration (GSA) to create an opportunity for vehicle manufacturers to supply the Army with 4,000 NEV’s (neighborhood electric vehicles) over the next 3 years.

According to the US Army PAO, by replacing 4,000 gas powered vehicles with the more fuel-efficient NEVs over the next three years, the Army will save 11 million gallons of fuel over the 6-year service life of the vehicle and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 115,000 tons. The Army operates almost 68,000 non-tactical vehicles. In addition to the 4,000 vehicles in this initial acquisition, the Army has an additional 24,000 non-tactical vehicles that are potential candidates for replacement by electric vehicles.

When you think about the potential savings that this acquisition has, it boggles the mind. It’s great that the Army is taking the lead in the military services and looking at ways to save money and preserve natural resources, as well as protect the environment. I’m looking forward to hearing more about this acquisition and seeing how much money the Army is able to save.