U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Acquisition Report for Fiscal Year 1999

Authority

This report has been developed in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT) (42 U.S.C. 13211-13219) as amended by the Energy Conservation Reauthorization Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-388) (ECRA), and Executive Order 13031, titled “Federal Alternative Fueled Vehicle Leadership (E.O. 13031).”

Legislative Requirements

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT) - requires that 75 percent of all covered light-duty vehicles acquired for Federal fleets in FY 1999 and beyond must be alternative fuel vehicles (AFV) (where the fleets have 20 or more vehicles, are capable of being centrally fueled, and are operated in a metropolitan statistical area with a population of more than 250,000 based on the 1980 census). Emergency, law enforcement, and national defense vehicles are exempt from these requirements. EPACT also sets a goal of using replacement fuels to displace at least 30 percent of the projected consumption of motor fuel in the United States annually by the year 2010.

The Energy Conservation and Reauthorization Act of 1998 (ECRA) - amended EPACT to allow one alternative fuel vehicle acquisition credit for every 450 gallons of pure biodiesel fuel consumed in vehicles over 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight rating. “Biodiesel credits” may fulfill up to 50 percent of an agency’s EPACT requirements.  In addition, Federal agencies must prepare and submit a report to Congress outlining the agency’s AFV acquisitions and future plans each year for 14 years.

Executive Order 13031 (1996), Federal Alternative Fueled Vehicle Leadership (E.O. 13031) - directs Federal agencies to exercise leadership in the use of AFVs. Federal agencies are required to develop and implement plans to fulfill the 75% AFV acquisition requirements established by EPACT for FY 1999 and thereafter.

DOT Fiscal Year 1999 AFV Procurement Statistics   

Table 1 (page 2) lists DOT’s Fiscal Year 1999 (FY 99) AFV acquisitions.  During the FY 99 vehicle procurement cycle, DOT acquired 603 covered vehicles (non-exempt vehicles covered under EPACT), of which 319 were AFVs.  While DOT While DOT purchased a large amount of AFVs in FY 99, it did not meet the 75 percent AFV-acquisition requirement; DOT acquired 53 percent of the required 75 percent. 

Table 1:  DOT’s FY 99 AFV Acquisitions

This shortfall is due to several factors, such as:

• Limited funds to pay for the incremental costs
• DOT’s special vehicle requirements
• Limited AFV availability from the automotive manufacturers
• Limited AFV infrastructure support (refueling and maintenance)   

The majority of DOT’s missions fall under either transportation security or safety.  For example, DOT operates a large number of light trucks that are specially equipped and outfitted for safety inspection missions.  Because of their special configurations, it is difficult to utilize AFVs in these applications, and there is limited product availability in this vehicle class.  Also, the AFV refueling and maintenance infrastructure is inadequate; there are only a small amount of AFV refueling stations, and the number of certified AFV dealerships is even less.  These factors severely limit DOT’s opportunities to acquire and operate AFVs.

DOT Fleet Profile - DOT currently has a total of 546 AFVs in our fleet.  In addition to the AFV sedans and light duty vehicles acquired in FY 99, DOT acquired one electric vehicle and four medium duty CNG trucks to our fleet in FY 99.  We are planning to acquire additional medium duty CNG trucks in the FY 00 procurement year. 

DOT took an exemption in FY 99 for 71 law enforcement vehicles.  These law enforcement vehicles are used for protective services and special agents for field investigations and surveillance use at marine and airport facilities. 

DOT obtains approximately 96% of our motor vehicles from the General Services Administration (GSA), Interagency Fleet Management System.  We will continue to work with GSA to ensure we communicate our goals for obtaining the necessary vehicles to meet the FY 00 and FY 01 EPACT goals of 75%. 

DOT Future Year Compliance Strategy

Communication - DOT will continue to encourage timely, open communication between our regional motor vehicle managers and GSA’s Fleet Management Center personnel.  This communication is critical to ensure agency’s motor vehicle requirements are provided to GSA personnel.  DOT will continue to stress our agency’s AFV goals to regional motor vehicle managers to ensure management budgets for the additional incremental cost of acquiring AFVs. 

DOT regional fleet managers are encouraged to attend motor vehicle management forums, workshops, conferences, etc., to become more knowledgeable in the acquisition and operations of AFVs. 

Utilization – DOT is encouraging our regional fleet managers to partner with local and State fleets to help improve the development of AFV maintenance and refueling infrastructure.  DOT will also monitor our fleet to identify and dispose of any underutilized vehicles.

Funding - Funding for these AFVs will come from the regional budgets of our Operating Administrations.  All levels of management have been notified of the EPACT and E.O. 13031 requirements for leadership in introducing AFVs into the DOT fleet and the need for additional funds to support the incremental cost for these AFVs.

FY 00 and 01 AFV Procurement Planning 

Table 2 indicates DOTs AFV acquisition plans for FY 00 and FY 01.  Acquisition plans are difficult to forecast and normally vary 20% annually, because annual fleet procurement is effected by the vehicle age, mileage, and replacement, and resale values.      

Table 2:  DOT’s FY 00 and 01 Planned Vehicle Acquisitions