The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has let a $22 million contract to Chrysler Corp. to produce at least 2,500 methanol flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) 1993 Spirit sedans for GAS's interagency fleet management system (IFMS).
The award is part of a joint agreement between GSA and the U.S. Department of Energy to acquire alternate fuel vehicles under the Alternative Motor Fuels Act of 1988 and the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
In separate transactions, GSA also placed orders against existing contracts with Ford Motor Co. for 300 methanol fueled FFV 1993 Taurus sedans worth $3.1 million and General Motors Corp. for 50 methanol and 50 ethanol FFV 1993 Lumina sedans at a cost of $1 million.
Roger Daniero, commissioner of GSA's federal supply service, said the orders underscore GSA's commitment to acquire alternate fuel vehicles for the federal fleet. To date, GSA has added more than 3,200 alternate fuel vehicles to the fleet. When delivery of the new orders is complete, GSA will have added more than 6,100 alternate fuel vehicles to its fleet.
INFRASTRUCTURE INCENTIVE
Daniero said in addition to meeting environmental goals, the increased numbers of alternative fuel vehicles in the federal fleet should provide incentive for development of a commercial refueling and vehicle maintenance infrastructure for all users.
GSA plans to assign the vehicles to many of the 125 major metropolitan areas specified in the Energy Policy Act. The ethanol flexible fuel cars will be concentrated in the Midwest and Washington.
DOE continues to subsidize the extra costs of FFVs.
The methanol FFVS will operate on as much as 85% methanol, unleaded gasoline, or any blend of the two. The ethanol FFVs will operate on as much as 85% ethanol, unleaded gasoline, or any combination of the two.
Delivery of the vehicles will begin next month and be complete by July.
Copyright 1993 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
