Focus on Fleets: OEMs Expand Light-Duty Advanced Transportation Options for Fleets
 Did you know that U.S. automakers have produced more than 6,000,000 E85 flexible fuel vehicles? And, hybrid vehicles are definitely becoming more common, with nearly 750,000 sales. OEMs are proving they have the technology and the will to expand their offerings of light-duty advanced transportation options for fleets.
Within the last two weeks, AFVi offered a webinar that provided a look at the options available today, as well as a glimpse at the future. The 90-minute event included presentations by representatives of Chrysler, Ford, General Motors (GM), American Honda Motor Company (Honda), and Toyota.
Flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) are probably the most widely known advanced transportation option in the light-duty market. FFVs can run on either gasoline or ethanol. In the United States, GM offers more than 13 lines and has sold 2.5 million FFVs. Ford follows in sales with 2 million vehicles and Chrysler, with 11 models available today, has sold 1.5 million. Isuzu, Mazda, Mercedes, and Nissan also offer FFVs and, next year, Toyota will begin sales of its first FFV – the ‘09 Tundra.
Hybrid vehicles are definitely becoming more common as well. Honda introduced the first hybrid, the Insight, in 2000. An increasing variety of hybrids are available today, with more OEMs providing ever more options each year. Toyota offers three hybrid vehicles and the Lexus line-up includes two hybrid models. GM offers its Malibu and Saturn Aura Green Line, along with their two-mode hybrids, the Tahoe and Yukon. Ford offers the Escape and Mariner and soon the Fusion and Milan. Honda has their Civic and Nissan, Mazda, Cadillac, and Dodge hybrid models are also available. In 2009, BMW and Mercedes will enter this market.
The greenest vehicle in 2007 is offered by Honda in its CNG Civic GX. And, with the availability of Phill, the refueling system offered by FuelMaker, this vehicle is becoming very popular in California and New York.
While OEMs, including Ford Powertrain Engineering, are presently developing B-20 capabilities, the primary caution, echoed by many, is that diesel car owners ensure that the biodiesel they purchase meets the BQ-9000 standard. Use of biodiesel is definitely increasing, affirmed by the fact that 250 million gallons of biodiesel were sold in 2006, up more than three times over 2005 sales.
Other advanced technology vehicles definitely worth considering when the application fits are the various all-electric vehicles offered by Global Electric Motorcars, Zenn, ZAP and others.
OEMs are always looking toward the future as well. In development are plug-in hybrids, EFlex cars (Chevrolet Volt), fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen powered Internal Combustion Engines (Ford), and HEV (fuel cell vehicle with plug-in capabilities). Toyota, GM, Ford, Honda, and others have fuel cell vehicles on the road today. Honda will be offering its FCX Concept car to the public next year.
To view a re-broadcast of the webinar, go to http://www.afvi.org/webinar27sep07.html. |
