October 07, 2009

Culver City Recognized for Natural Gas Efforts

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CULVER CITY, CA - The City of Culver City, Calif., was one of five 2009 National NGV Achievement Award recipients recognized in a ceremony Sept. 21 at the three-day Annual NGV Conference-Summit in Long Beach, Calif. Presented by NGVAmerica and the Clean Vehicle Education Foundation (CVEF), the awards are given to persons and organizations in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the advancement of natural gas as a vehicular fuel.

Culver City decided to start replacing diesel and gasoline vehicles with CNG-powered vehicles in 1996. Since then, it has been a progressive leader in its commitment to using CNG as its fuel of choice for its entire fleet. Operating 102 CNG vehicles in its 600-plus fleet, alternative-fuel vehicles includes 52 buses, 17 refuse trucks, 28 light-duty vehicles, and five heavy-duty public works trucks. City vehicles are fueled at its dedicated CNG station, displacing nearly 800,000 gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel, and saving taxpayers more than $1.2 million dollars per year. Nearly 80 percent of the City's medium- and heavy-duty fleet is now CNG-powered, an action that has removed more than 2,100 tons of CO₂ and 40 tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides over the past eight years alone, according to the City.

After initially deploying 20 CNG buses in 1998, the Culver City Bus fleet eventually completed replacement of all its diesel buses by 2004, becoming the first 100-percent CNG transit fleet in the South Coast Air Quality Management District - and just the second in the state.  Other "firsts" include the City's CNG-powered asphalt truck, sewer truck and other vocational trucks, none of which were available until fleet staff worked with manufacturers to develop new engine/chassis specifications - applications that have since been improved upon and offered to other cities. 

The City's CNG fleet program was also a major factor in its #2 ranking for the Best Green Fleet in North America by the Top 100 Fleets Certification Program.

"As an early adopter of NGV technology, Culver City has built upon experience to build a successful NGV program and they've shared their insights and experiences with others. This type of leadership is worthy of our industry's recognition and thanks," said CVEF President Doug Horne. 

In addition, Culver City has consistently climbed its way to the top of Government Fleet's annual 100 Best Fleets listing, improving its ranking from #19 in 2007 to #14 in 2008, and most recently, #5 in 2009.