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May 21, 2008

'Green Fleet' of Alternative-Fuel Vehicles Introduced by AT&T

By Vinti Vaid, TMCnet Contributing Editor


AT&T (News - Alert) has announced plans to add 105 alternative-fuel vehicles to the corporate fleet of its operating companies. This announcement is a reflection of the company’s commitment to reduce its impact on the environment and its dependence on imported oil.



 
Beginning in June, the vehicles will roll out in more than 30 cities across the U.S. A Green Technology insignia will make the vehicles easy to identify on the road.
 
Plans indicate the deployment of three types of alternative-fuel vehicles - 25 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vans, 65 electric hybrid Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) vehicles -- Ford Escapes and Toyota Priuses -- and 15 electric hybrid conversion work trucks. AT&T will measure and track fuel efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, operating costs, performance and driver satisfaction of each vehicle.
 
"Reducing our fleet's petroleum fuel consumption and operating costs is a top priority," said Jerome Webber, vice president of Fleet Operations, AT&T Services Inc. "Even the smallest improvement in fuel use, when applied across our corporate fleet, can make a significant impact for the environment and for our business. That's why we're committed to identifying smart ways to improve the efficiency of our fleet and to exploring advancement with alternative-fuel technologies."
 
Initial estimates by AT&T suggest that its use of these alternative-fueled and more fuel-efficient vehicles will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 124 metric tons and conserve nearly 34,395 gallons of fuel annually.

The CNG vans are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 30 percent compared with traditional gasoline vans.

The electric hybrid OEM vehicles are expected to offer a 39 percent improvement in fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 29 percent.

The electric hybrid conversion work trucks are expected to offer a 38 percent improvement in fuel economy compared with similar gasoline-powered vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 28 percent.
 
"More and more fleets are recognizing that hybrid trucks can deliver significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and fuel costs," said Victoria Mills, project manager at Environmental Defense Fund. 
 
According to Stephe Yborra, director of Market Analysis, Education and Communications for the nonprofit Clean Vehicle Education Foundation, "AT&T's use of CNG vans, powered solely by America's abundant natural gas, and hybrid vehicles that consume less gasoline, will help our nation improve air quality and reduce reliance on foreign oil."
 
Apart from the deployment of these 105 alternative-fuel vehicles, AT&T has implemented additional measures to increase fuel efficiency, decrease operating costs and reduce environmental impacts. These measures include the use of a Daily Best Fuel Price tool, which allows drivers to check the cheapest fuel stations within their assigned route, and the planned implementation of an idling-reduction policy. The company is also evaluating alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power to enhance energy performance and minimize energy consumption in company buildings, IT systems and networks.
 
Vinti Vaid is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Vinti’s articles, please visit her columnist page.
 
Don’t forget to check out TMCnet’s White Paper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers white papers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users. Today’s featured white paper is Accelerating 3G Mobile Video Communications, brought to you by HP Software.
 







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