FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
The Fort Eustis Directorate of Logistics teamed up with General Services Agency to purchase/lease 11 Low-Speed Electric Vehicles. According to Arba Williamson, Directorate of Public Works Environmental and Natural Resources Divisionthe project to obtain the LSEVs was due to the actions of the Environmental Management Systems functional area teams.
"This purchase/lease of these vehicles was a tracked target of the EMS Quality of Life/Infrastructure Team to respond to Presidential Executive Order 13423," said Williamson.
The order requires all Department of Defense to reduce total fleet consumption of petroleum products by 2 percent annually through 2015.
"The overall Eustis goal is to reduce the use of fossil fueled vehicles assigned, while ensuring the customer needs are met," said Lori A. Watson, Installation Transportation Officer.
The ITO in coordination with GSA has replaced more than 50 percent of the garrison's transportation motor pool fleet with alternate fueled vehicles in an effort to reduce overall fuel consumption. The new LSEVs provide unique benefits. There are no air emissions, they operate without fossil fuels using no oil or other lubricants, they are noise free, and they require fewer parking spaces. The vehicles are charged daily and maintained by DOL.
The first directorate on Eustis to receive the LSEVs was Fire and Emergency Services, which received two of the vehicles March 10. According to Patricia Lee, assistant chief, the fire department conducted planning meetings for one year to incorporate the new vehicles.
"These LSEVs will be used by the Prevention Branch to complete life safety inspections and afford the community training," said Lee.
LSEVs are street worthy vehicles with a maximum speed of 25 mph and are authorized for use on installations only. These vehicles are also intended to replace vehicles used for movement of personnel and cargo over short distances on the installation.
"LSEVs not only help us do our jobs, but they can also save and protect the environment, "said Jason Percy, firefighter/emergency medical technician.
The Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management and Installation Management Command has joined with the GSA to acquire 502 LSEVs for distribution to 33 garrisons and commands. With the completion of this delivery in mid-July, the Army will have the federal government's largest fleet of LSEVs.
If an activity that uses their GSA vehicle on post only and is interested in a one-for-one swap for a LSEV, contact the TMP at 878-4494.