SPRINGFIELD, IL – Three years ago, Gov. Blagojevich challenged the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) to better manage the state’s vehicle fleet. Since then, the state fleet has eliminated 1,600 vehicles from the state auto fleet, generated $1.1 million dollars from selling the unneeded vehicles, and reduced overall fuel and maintenance costs by more than $5.3 million in the past two fiscal years. To further manage fleet costs, Executive Order 7 was signed in 2004 and mandates that state agencies and employees use E-85 and biodiesel, when possible, and prioritize flexible-fuel vehicles in future fleet purchases. As a result, the Illinois government has purchased more flexible-fuel vehicles: 81 percent of passenger cars bought in FY05 were FFVs. Currently, there are nearly 1,700 flexible-fuel vehicles in the fleet, which now represents 14 percent of the state’s 12,100-vehicle fleet. Also, state fueling locations now offer E-85 and biodiesel in Springfield, Chicago, Carbondale, and Edwardsville. The use of E-85 has increased by 33 percent in the last six months to more than 3,800 gallons/month. The state now consumes approximately 30,000 gallons of 2 percent biodiesel fuel per month.