Postal Service Explores Options for 'Green' Delivery Fleet

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/postal-service-explores-options-green/story.aspx?guid={CFE0AA12-9382-41CD-86EA-4698B785260D}&dist=hppr

Postal Service Explores Options for 'Green' Delivery Fleet

Last update: 1:38 p.m. EDT July 23, 2008
IRVINE, Calif., July 23, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The U.S. Postal Service plans to identify new, more environmentally friendly vehicle technologies that are less dependent on petroleum-based fuel sources to replace the 195,000 neighborhood delivery vehicles of its total 220,000 vehicles, the world's largest civilian fleet. Today's announcement came during a ceremony in which General Motors presented a Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell electric vehicle to the Postal Service for testing in a mail-delivery environment.

"We are looking for a vehicle that operates from a fuel source that reduces -- or eliminates -- our dependence on petroleum products, that is good for the environment, good for our customers and good for the Postal Service," said Walter O'Tormey, vice president, Engineering, as he accepted the keys to the Equinox Fuel Cell that will be tested in Irvine, CA.

Moving forward with non-petroleum fueled vehicles is more important to the Postal Service than ever, O'Tormey said, since a one-cent increase in a gallon of fuel adds $8 million annually to Postal Service expenses. Fuel costs last year were $1.7 billion and are expected to increase this year by $600 million.

"The Postal Service has been an invaluable partner, and they put our fuel cell vehicles through some tough, daily workouts," said Mary Beth Stanek, director of energy and environmental policy & commercialization at General Motors. "We are gaining valuable insight on how these vehicles perform in demanding, real-world situations. By participating in Project Driveway, the Postal Service also is demonstrating the need to develop a hydrogen infrastructure to support fueling these vehicles."

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[kestrel91316]

1. We need ALL our government and commercial fleets

transitioning to alternatives. Not so sure about the fuel cell angle, but you know what they say: Any port in a storm.......

[Indenturedebtor]

2. Any port that guarantees fuel mogul dominance for the next 200 years is what they're after

There is ZERO reason to go with fuel cell over lithium ion except to guarantee that someone gets to suck at the public teat of "necessary infrastructure".

I hate all this hydrogen bullshit.

[DCKit]

3. The Hydrogen Lie - AGAIN.

Diesel/electric hybrids with hydraulic or compressed air regenerative braking might be a little more difficult to engineer, but they work NOW at a far higher efficiency than we'll ever get from H2.

Hell, a compressed air vehicle with solar panels on the roof would work for the city trucks. It's not as if they don't all begin their shifts at a central location.

I'd ask "WTF is wrong with the people who make these decisions", but that's been answered upthread.