Connecticut Bill Would Increase State Fleet Vehicle Fuel Economy Requirements

A bill in Connecticut's State legislature would raise the minimum fuel economy a vehicle would have to achieve before being eligible for operation by the State’s Department of Administrative Services (DAS). The bill, S.B. 430, has passed Connecticut’s State Senate and is now in its House of Representatives for consideration.

The bill would increase the minimum fuel economy of a vehicle maintained by the State's DAS to an average of 40 mpg by 2016. It also extends the deadline, from Jan. 1, 2012 to Jan. 1, 2016, by which all State-owned cars and light-duty trucks must be fueled by alternative fuels, are hybrids, or are plug-in electric vehicles.

The current version of the bill exempts some vehicles, including all of those used by State agencies for law enforcement and emergency response purposes.

According to current Connecticut State law (outlined in the bill's text), cars and light-duty trucks in State agency fleets must get the best achievable mileage per pound of CO2 emitted in their vehicle class. Also, at least half of vehicles operated by State agencies must be alternative-fueled, hybrid electric, or plug-in electric vehicles. Lastly, all alternative-fuel, gasoline, and hybrid vehicles purchased or leased by State agencies must be certified to the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) II Ultra Low Emission Vehicle standard.