Utah Will Spend $4 Million to Double the Number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Utah’s alternative fuel of choice is, once again, compressed natural gas

June 2009

The State of Utah will spend about $4 million to add more fuel-efficient vehicles to its fleet by the end of its 2010 fiscal year. Margaret Chambers, director of the state's Division of Fleet Operations, said the money will be used to buy 26 new compressed natural gas (CNG) and 343 hybrid electric vehicles.

The purchase will more than double the number of CNG vehicles and hybrids in the state's fleet of about 7,400 units. Although the upfront price is higher for alternative-fuel vehicles, Chambers said, the lower fuel cost and higher resale value make them a good investment for Utah.

In addition, the division plans to convert roughly 75 gasoline-powered vehicles to run on CNG. Chambers explained that the shift to CNG in Utah is the revival of a trend that fizzled a decade ago, when manufacturers backed away from the technology. "We have a great CNG infrastructure here," she said.  "We have fueling sites, and our CNG prices are very affordable."  An estimated 80% to 90% of natural gas is produced domestically.

Utah's fleet currently includes 86 CNG vehicles and 192 hybrids. Going forward, Chambers said, her goal is to add and replace fleet vehicles with alternative-fuel vehicles in every possible case.

Learn more about the Utah Division of Fleet Operations' policies on fuel-efficiency, on the agency’s Web site. Read about compressed natural gas on the fueleconomy.gov Web site and view a map of CNG fueling station locations published by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.