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Lawmaker calls on state to go Hybrid-Electric for car and truck purchases
D-Montgomery The state needs to "take the lead" and start a pilot program to lease and purchase Hybrid-Electric Vehicles for the state's fleet. This past week, I introduced legislation, that would require at least 10 percent of the vehicles the Department of General Services purchases or leases every year to be an HEV. DGS is the agency charged with obtaining vehicles for lawmakers and all state agencies. Hybrid-Electric Vehicles include an electric motor to provide all of the power to the wheels, as well as batteries to supply the motor with electricity. There is also a completely separate 10 to 20 horsepower gasoline engine powering a generator. That engine is designed to run at just one speed for maximum efficiency at cruising speeds. The batteries of an HEV are charged by a combination of the gasoline motor and harnessing the energy used in braking -- energy that is completely wasted in a traditional gas-only vehicle. Hybrid cars are cheaper, hybrid cars are cleaner and hybrid cars are more efficient. It's time for Pennsylvania to start using hybrid cars for the 40,000 vehicles in its fleet. HEVs are more fuel-efficient than the gas-only versions of the vehicles. Studies show that for every 10 additional miles per gallon of gasoline a vehicle gets, it saves about $250 per year in reduced fuel costs. Also, HEVs fill up at the same gas stations as every other car, are covered by the same manufacturer's warranties, and can be serviced at the same dealerships as the gas-only versions. H.B. 1946 also addresses the fact that, currently, only Honda and Toyota offer HEVs to consumers. This measure would not require the state to purchase HEVs until American-made versions are available. All three American car manufacturers will have a full slate of HEVs ready to go by 2007, including full-size cars, pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles. Some people think of HEVs as only small economy cars. In 2006, Mercedes-Benz is going to release a full-sized S-Class HEV. If there is going to be a $100,000 Mercedes HEV, I don't think there's going to be much shame in driving a $20,000 Ford or General Motors HEV. No one is suggesting that the Game Commission not have four-wheel-drive trucks to get into the woods, or that the Department of Transportation plow the interstate with a Honda. But, when an American manufacturer can provide a comparable, affordable HEV to replace a gas-only vehicle, millions could be saved, and I think Pennsylvania can and should take the lead in getting these vehicles on the road. Similar legislation has already been adopted or is being considered in several other states, including California, New Jersey, Florida and Maryland. I have been joined by supporters ranging from NBC 10 meteorologist Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz to the Sierra Club's Clean Air Committee chairwoman to offer testimony in favor of the measure at a meeting of the House State Government Committee. The committee will hold additional hearings on the legislation in upcoming weeks. CapNews Guest Speaker: Archives |
