City of Boston to Convert Van Fleet to Hybrid Electric Drive

If you think the City of Boston liked the color green before, well now it’s planning to convert its fleet of 160 vans to eco-friendly hybrids. In the process, it is turning to XL Hybrids, pioneering developer of hybrid electric powertrain technology for commercial and municipal fleets. The newly converted vans support the Greenovate Boston goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.

“The City of Boston is leading the way, implementing cutting-edge technology to improve the efficiency of our operations, while reducing our environmental impact,” said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “Utilizing this technology will save tax-payer money and is a win-win for any business or organization.”

Going forward The City of Boston intends to replace ten percent of its fleet each year with alternative fuel vehicles. Currently, all diesel powered vehicles use a B20 bio-diesel blend.

Noted Jim McGonagle, director of central fleet management for The City of Boston, “Since XL Hybrids is based in Boston, working with them is simple and smart. The ability to retrofit vans from our existing fleet allowed us to see immediate benefits. There were no driver training or maintenance requirements. I look forward to ordering new vans with the XL Hybrids system in the coming months.”

As a designated Massachusetts Green Community, Boston has been replacing older sedans with alternative fuel vehicles over the past three years. In addition, the city initiated a vehicle sharing pool in 2012 as part of its commitment to lowering greenhouse gas emissions by reducing fuel usage.

Initially, four converted vans are being used by the Boston Transportation Department’s Enforcement Division, the Elderly Affairs Department’s Senior Shuttle Service, and the Central Fleet.

Category: Featured, General Update, Green