Federal fleet managers are getting fired up over a new electric vehicle loaner/lease program. Or shall we say charged up.
The Energy Department has teamed up with the Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO) to offer federal fleet managers in the Washington area the option of testing and then leasing electric Ford Ranger pickups. PEPCO and the Energy Department signed a memorandum of understanding Thursday establishing the program, which is the first of its kind.
Under the agreement, Washington fleets will be allowed to use an electric Ford truck at no cost for a one-month evaluation period. If the truck suits the agency's needs, the agency's fleet manager will be able to lease the vehicle at a reduced cost from PEPCO.
DOE will give $6,669 to any agency that leases an electric-powered Ranger for three years from PEPCO. This incentive, combined with an $8,604 lease incentive provided by Ford, means an agency can lease the truck for $448 per month, plus the cost of the battery charger and electricity. Ford's nationwide lease price is $633, and the cost to purchase a 1998 electric Ranger is $32,795.
As part of the agreement, PEPCO will cover $2,000 of the cost of installing battery chargers at agency sites. The trucks are covered under 3-year bumper-to-bumper warranty from Sheehey Ford in Upper Marlboro, Md.
The electric truck looks just like a gasoline-powered truck from the outside, but has a driving range of about 50 miles between charges. This makes the truck, which is a zero-emission vehicle, most suitable for general security, warehouse work, internal mail delivery, and local transportation for employees between complexes.
"We're confident that when people start using the truck on a day-to-day basis, they'll see that this is a real truck that will get the job done and protect the environment," said John Wallace, director of Ford's Alternative Fuel Vehicles Division.
Energy Secretary Federico Pena said he hopes the program will jump-start the electric vehicle movement in government.
"President Clinton believes that the federal government should lead by example in conserving energy," he said. "This initiative's goal is to motivate other federal agencies to incorporate electric-powered vehicles into their fleets." DOE hopes to increase the number of electric vehicles in government from 189 to 500 over the next 18 months.
The Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Justice and Transportation departments, along with the Environmental Protection Agency and the General Services Administration, have expressed interest in the 30-day loan evaluation period.
For more information on the program, contact PEPCO Program Manager Bonnie Graziano at 202-872-2973.
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