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AltWheels Fleet Day Showcases Innovative Technologies and Vehicles

Industry Progress Helps Event Celebrate 10 Years of Creating a Sustainable Transportation Vision for the 21st Century

 

Mark Sylvia, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, welcomed the crowd of nearly 260 fleet managers, sponsors, exhibitors and other guests at the 10th anniversary of AltWheels Fleet Day on Monday, October 7. The informative day showcasing alternative transportation solutions took place at the Four Points by Sheraton in Norwood, MA and featured 28 speakers, 8 panel discussions, 31 exhibits, and over 20 vehicles, most of which were available for test drives by the fleet managers looking to cut emissions while also reducing their operating costs.

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Welcoming the attendees was Alison Sander, Founder and Chairman of AltWheels which has become established as a leading way for fleet managers to get useful and practical information on how to reduce costs while improving the performance of their fleets. Sander noted AltWheels’ evolution from a small display of alternative vehicles at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum to a large public festival on Boston City Hall Plaza to today’s focused seminar for fleet managers. She also addressed the progress in alternative transportation in New England and beyond over the past decade, citing a two-fold increase in the number of alternative fueled vehicles since 2003 and a two-fold increase in the number of alternative fueling stations in New England.

“Still, in 2012, Alternate Fueled Vehicles represented just under 4% of the 14.5 Million Cars and Light Trucks Sold,” she said, “so despite our progress, we still have a long way to go and AltWheels is committed to helping fleet managers realize that adopting alternative fuels can be coupled with cost savings, the surest way for them to help move their fleets in this direction.”

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Representatives from Ford, General Motors and Honda were joined by a speaker from John Deere to update fleet managers on their latest alternative fuel solutions available to them including Ford’s new F-Series Super Duty pickup truck that Ford’s Jon Coleman explained is, “the only CNG capable half-ton pickup available. It has attracted attention even in countries where the F-150 isn’t even available!”

GM’s Jay Ferraro noted that, “All the automakers have come light years beyond where we once were and the 2014 Chevy Cruze diesel sedan is truly revolutionary with its EPA-estimated 46 miles per gallon.”

Fleet Day also showcased a large outdoor vehicle display and ride and drive opportunities.  In addition to a nostalgic 1922 “Stanley Steamer,” other vehicles on display included:

·         CNG-powered Honda Civic GX

·         Ford Roush F-250 Propane Pickup

·         24’ Smith Newton Electric Box truck, powered by 100% electricity

·         CNG Bi-Fuel Silverado

·         2014 Chevrolet Silverado

·         Peterbilt 12 liter ( L) spark ignited tractor, 350 HP engine with a 6 speed Allison 3000 series automatic transmission

·         11,200 gallon Applied Cryo Technologies ( ACT ) MC-338 cargo tank that transports LNG to refueling facilities

·         Tri State Truck Center Freightliner 114SD

·         Honda Civic Natural Gas

·         Toyota Advanced Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle

·         Ford E-250 CNG Cargo Van with Landi Renzo CNG Fuel System

·         Chevy Express 2500 Cargo Van with XL Hybrids Electric Powertrain, conversion by Leggett & Platt

·         Ford E-350 Elkhart Coach Shuttle Bus with Lightning Hybrids Hydraulic Hybrid System, conversion by National Fleet Hybrids of Attleboro, MA

·         Massport’s 40' CNG Bus

·         Bi-fuel Ford E-250 capable of operating on gasoline or propane

·         GMC 3500 Savana Cut away with 17' Box and Solar Power Systems installed

·         Hybrid-Powered Sewer Line Inspection Truck

Panel topics included:

·         Emerging technologies - hear the latest plans from OEMs to save fuel

·         Innovations beyond Fleet Management: 

·         Alternative fuels - Why use them: it has been 10 years, have we made progress?

The breakout sessions offered included:

·         Propane as an Autogas

·         Hydrogen Technology

·         Electric Vehicles

·         Hybrid Technology

·         CNG and LNG

Premier sponsors of AltWheels Fleet Day included AVSG, BAF, Clean Energy, Massachusetts Clean Cities, North American Equipment Upfitters, Propane Education and Research Council, ROUSH, Wesport LD; Gold sponsors included Amerigas, Ford, Frito Lay, General Motors; Gulf Oil Limited Partnership, Leggett and Platt CVP, Landi Renzo USA, National Fleet Hybrids, United Soybean Board, XL Hybrids; Silver sponsors included Dennis K. Burke, McDevitt Trucks, National Grid, Staples, Smart Center of Lynnfield, Tri State Truck Center; VNG.com; Bronze sponsors included Manchester Honda, Massachusetts Port Authority, Newport Biodiesel, Northeast Utilities, Nuvera, Peterson Oil, Stoneham Motor Company, White Mountain Biodiesel; Green sponsors included American Power Group, Carma Systems, ChargePoint, Inc., Devaney Energy, eNow, Global CNG LLC, Minuteman Trucks, Northeast Gas Association, OsComp, Society of Automotive Engineers, SSP, US EPA of New England "SmartWay Transport Partnership" and VOLTREK.

Further information and photographs on AltWheels is available or online at www.altwheels.org.

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