WASHINGTON – The District of Columbia has acquired 10 new alternative-fuel vehicles that the Department of Public Works (DPW) plans to use for trash collection, street sweeping, snow removal, and other services.

The District purchased the vehicles using federal stimulus funds provided by the EPA though the District Department of the Environment (DDOE). Government Fleet spoke with a DPW spokesperson about the specific vehicles the District acquired. They include two CNG-fueled, 16 cu. yd. refuse trucks, six ethanol-fueled, snow-ready F-350s, and two CNG-fueled street sweepers.

“The vehicles we are putting into service symbolize our commitment to taking a Sustainable DC to the next level,” said Mayor Gray. “We have more than 1,400 alternative fuel vehicles in our fleet, which is a 47 percent increase over 2010. By investing in heavy- and medium-duty vehicles that use alternative fuels, we will achieve a higher per-vehicle reduction in emissions.”

D.C. has been ranked among the top 20 green fleets for its use of alternative-fuel vehicles.

“In 2010 and 2011, the District’s fleet was ranked among the top 20 green fleets for pioneering the use of Zipcar technology to streamline our motor-pool operation known as DC FleetShare,” said Mayor Gray. “The DC FleetShare pool includes 78 compressed natural gas (CNG), gas-electric hybrid and E-85 (15 percent gasoline/85 percent ethanol) vehicles.”

By Greg Basich