FEBRUARY 22, 2016, WASHINGTON (NNS) – Naval District Washington (NDW) is taking the steps to follow the mandate from Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus for use of alternative fuel vehicles and reduce petroleum consumption.
According to executive order 13423, all U.S. government agencies, including the Navy, are required to implement policies to meet goals of energy consumption reduction and increasing the use of alternative fuels.
“Reducing our dependence on petroleum is crucial to the Navy’s energy security and independence,” said NDW Transportation Program Director Frank Nguyenduc. “The 20 percent reduction in petroleum use will be achieved by investing in alternative fuel vehicles and in more efficient vehicles. Our experience has shown us that there are many more opportunities for reduction, while meeting all mission requirements.”
Alternative fuel vehicles include plug-in hybrid, electric, hydrogen, biodiesel, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and dual-fuel vehicles. When a vehicle should be changed out, the Navy invested in alternative fuel vehicles by replacing the older petroleum-reliant vehicles with alternative fuel vehicles.
“Commander Navy Installations Command (CNIC), in partnership with Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), is implementing mandates to increase use by all Navy personnel of alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles,” said Nguyenduc. “Presently, within the Naval District Washington area, there are 999 E85 fuel-capable vehicles.”
To increase alternative fuel use and reduce petroleum consumption, CNIC and NAVFAC policies require E85 vehicles on Navy shore activities within a reasonable distance (5 miles or 15 minutes) of an E85 fueling station to fill up using E85 fuel.
Throughout 2015, NWD avoided the use of approximately 5,000 gallons of gasoline each month with vehicles capable of using E85, a blend containing 85 percent plant-based ethanol, comparable to gasoline. With the fleet we have now, by exclusively using E85 in E85 vehicles, NDW will immediately reduce gasoline use by another 20,000 gallons monthly.
Nguyenduc explained in addition to the E85 fuel vehicles, NAVFAC currently has four Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid vehicles throughout the Washington, D.C. area; two on the Washington Navy Yard and two on Naval Support Activity (NSA) South Potomac.
While these vehicles are capable of running on gasoline, the majority of operations are performed within the 70 mile operating range of the onboard electric battery.
“To maximize the impact of these vehicles, operators should ensure that the vehicles are plugged in at every opportunity,” said Nguyenduc. “Of course to allow this, drivers of non-electric vehicles should take care to avoid parking in spots with charging stations. In addition to dedicated spots for each of the four Chevy Volts, there are eight charging stations at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and one at Naval Air Station Patuxent River that are ready to support plug-in hybrid vehicles as they become available. NSA Annapolis has 10 electric slow-moving vehicles intended for on-base use only.”
To find alternative fueling stations to support the use of alternative fuel vehicles visit the Department of Energy’s website at http://www.afdc.energy.gov/locator/stations/.