July 11, 2008—The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) are launching two initiatives to enable “greener” fleet management.
EPA’s SmartWay Leaf Campaign encourages fleets and consumers to purchase SmartWay-certified cars and trucks. SmartWay is an innovative partnership among government, businesses, and consumers designed to protect the environment, cut fuel consumption, and improve air quality while reducing greenhouse gases.
The national campaign features broadcast, radio and print public service announcements that will help consumers recognize the SmartWay leaf as a symbol of cleaner and more fuel efficient transportation choices. Roughly 20 percent of all vehicles–covering a wide variety of makes and models–qualify as clean and green enough to be SmartWay-certified.
EPA scores vehicles according to their environmental impact and offers a Green Vehicle Guide to help consumers choose the cleanest and most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets their needs.
The new campaign builds on the previous outreach efforts to inform drivers about ways they can save fuel and protect the environment, like the recent Alliance to Save Energy’s Drive $marter Challenge campaign launched in May.
In addition, the US Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center now has an online station locator to help fleets and consumers find gas stations that sell E85 or other alternative fuels. Users specify the type of fuel wanted, then enter their address, and the locator maps out the closest stations that sell that fuel. The site also provides information for truckstop electrification, total station counts, and an overview map of the US.
Sponsored by the US Department of Energy’s Clean Cities initiative and technically administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the AFDC hosts more than 3,000 documents, interactive tools that help fleets and consumers make transportation decisions and a wealth of information to educate the public on alternative fuels and advanced vehicles.
