Energy Department Declares $6 Million to Accelerate Alternative Fuel Vehicle Market Growth

The Energy Department on March nine announced $6 million for eleven plans aimed at improving potential buyers' experiences with alternative fuel and plug-in electric vehicles, supporting training, and integrating alternative fuels into emergency planning. Through the Energy Department's Clean Cities program, these plans address many of the challenges limiting the use of alternative fuel and plug-in electric vehicles, particularly in these 3 areas: on-the-road demonstrations, safety-related training, and emergency preparedness.

The plans will be centered in ten states-Florida, Ohio, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. 5 plans will enable consumers and fleets to drive alternative fuel vehicles for extended periods of time to help them better understand how these vehicles can meet their everyday needs. For example, a Tallahassee, Florida plan will allow thousands of visitors in Orlando to rent and gain information on plug-in electric vehicles.

Another 5 plans will focus on training for 1st responders, public safety officials, tow-truck operators, and collision repair specialists and teach these service providers how to safely handle alternative fuel vehicles. One plan in Morgantown, West Virginia will not only develop a new curriculum, but provide it for free online and train educators that can present it in person. Also, an Arlington, Virginia plan will incorporate alternative fuel and advanced vehicles into multiple emergency preparedness projects that address varied geographies and potential incidents. See the Energy Department news release and the complete list of winners.

There are currently no comments for this story. Be the first to add a comment!
Click here to add a comment about this story.