Making the Most of Your Fleet Budget: Alternative Fuel Vehicles & Other Savings

It’s budget time. Fleet managers are focused on their fleets and identifying savings to optimize operations for 2016 and beyond.

Here are some tips to facilitate the budgeting process and uncover opportunities to contain costs:

Leverage Volume & Vehicle Service

Fleet managers may be able to negotiate rebates from their vehicle maintenance providers based on volume. By developing a list of maintenance services each vehicle will need during its service life, fleet managers can ask their fleet management company to forecast prices for vehicle services in the next year and negotiate pricing based on the number of fleet vehicles.

Westport Launches New Stocking Program to Cut Customer Wait Times

Westport is launching a new stocking program that will see its natural gas vehicles available at select Ford dealerships across the United States. In Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Florida participating dealerships will be stocking a wide range of bi-fuel and dedicated Westport WiNG™ Power System compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles including the Ford F-150, F-250, the all-new Transit Van and the F-59.

“This is a game-changer,” says Paul Shaffer, Westport Dallas vice president and managing director. “The wait time will be cut to as little as a couple of days from placement of order to receipt of vehicle. This allows fleets to take advantage of the benefits of CNG that much quicker.”

What Do Classical Records and Treats for Fido Have to Do with Driving an NGV?

On May 5, Westport asked people in Long Beach, California, “What would YOU do with an extra $200 in your wallet this month?” for the #MyTreat event.

Why $200? Because that’s the average we estimated people could save on fuel* by driving the new compressed natural gas (CNG) Ford F-150 with the Westport WiNG™ Power System. Westport held the debut of this vehicle – the only CARB and EPA certified Ford F-150 – in California as part of the Alternative Clean Transportation Expo.

Natural gas vehicles are popular with fleets, but not as many individuals are driving them. So why did we decide to show off this great new CNG pick-up to the public? We think it’s important for people to know that natural gas vehicles are here and now, just like our tagline says, and even though you might not be driving one, it’s possible you’ve ridden in a natural gas powered bus, received a package delivered in a natural gas powered van, or even bought groceries hauled in a natural gas powered refrigerated truck.

Curious what people would do with the extra cash? Some said they would give the money to charitable organizations. Others had an eye on electronics. A few folks would put it towards a nice, sunny vacation.

These three Alternative Clean Transportation Expo attendees were interested in buying classical music records for their children, solar panels, and giving to good works.

What Would You Do With An Extra $200 In Your Wallet This Month?

Westport and the CARB Certified Ford F-150 will be onsite at Shoreline Village, 401-435 Shoreline Village Dr, Long Beach, CA on May 5 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
www.westport.com/mytreat

If you had an extra $200 this month, how would you use it? Westport wants to know what Californians would do with the savings they could achieve by driving a natural gas vehicle. On May 5, Westport is debuting the first ever California Air Resources Board-certified, natural gas-dedicated Ford F-150, powered by the Westport WiNG™ Power System at Shoreline Village in Long Beach, CA.

Westport is inviting folks down to see the F-150, and tell us the things they could do with the estimated average monthly fuel savings, driving on compressed natural gas (CNG) instead of gasoline. Some lucky participants may even get their wishes granted.

So You’re EPA & CARB Certified, So What?

Last week Westport announced it received certification from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for its 2014 model year Westport WiNG™ Power System Ford F-150 pickup truck, with the dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) system. Westport is the only natural gas system provider that currently offers a CARB certified Ford F-150.

Westport also received Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification for its 2015 model year Ford F-250 and F-350 super duty trucks with the Westport WiNG™ bi-fuel CNG system.

What do these certifications mean for consumers?

Westport’s 2013 Honourable Mentions

 As 2013 draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to shine the spotlight on a few Westport highlights we thought deserved another mention. From announcing a new President, to the launch of the Westport iCE PACK™ LNG Tank System, to orders for four liquefied natural gas tenders for rail, it’s been an exciting year.

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Westport’s 2013 Honourable Mentions

Driving What They’re Selling: DTE Energy on Why Their Fleet Includes NGVs

Providing electricity and gas services to over three million customers in Michigan requires DTE Energy staff to drive vehicles they can rely on. The company maintains a fleet of nearly 5,000 vehicles, which includes around 300 natural gas vehicles (NGVs). Each vehicle logs about 18,000 miles annually.

“Being a natural gas utility, we’ve always been interested in using CNG as a vehicle fuel,” says Mark Johnson, Director of Fleet Operations.

One of DTE Energy's 300 natural gas vehicles: a bi-fuel Westport WiNG™ Ford F-250 pickup.

The company’s field staff and supervisors spend a significant amount of time driving to customer sites, setting up utility service and responding to power concerns, among other duties. Several field staff drive bi-fuel Ford F-250 Westport WiNG™ Power System pickups and many will soon drive the Westport WiNG Ford F-150 dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) pickup; the company placed orders for Ford’s first-ever offering of the CNG-capable F-150.

What’s Better than Cheap CNG? Free CNG!

Westport and Clean Energy Fuels are teaming up to give customers free fuel if they buy a qualifying Westport WiNG™ Power System powered Ford vehicle before December 31, 2013. Customers who order five or more vehicles will receive credits for free compressed natural gas (CNG) at any of the retail Clean Energy CNG stations across the United States.

As leaders in the natural gas vehicle (NGV) industry, Westport and Clean Energy are working together to lead the transition to NGVs – vehicles using a cleaner fuel that is domestically abundant and more affordable than gasoline. The free fuel offer gives existing fleets, and fleets considering natural gas vehicles, the chance to enjoy the technology, performance and ease of refueling NGVs.

The free fuel credits are being offered on a “first-come-first-served” basis, and up to 750,000 gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) of CNG fuel will be given away by Westport during the promotion. Fleets have until December 31, 2015 to use their free fuel credits.

Westport Leader Now a Sustainability All Star

One of Westport’s leaders is now a ‘Sustainability All Star.’ Westport Vice President John Lapetz was one of 40 individuals recognized at Green Fleet Magazine’s third annual Sustainability All-Star Awards ceremony on October 2 in Phoenix, Arizona for his achievements in alternative fuel vehicle systems.

“I’m pleased and honoured to receive this award on behalf of all the people who I have worked with in pursuing what I feel is a national and global imperative – to leave the world the way we found it,” John said. “This award is an affirmation that the support I received from Ford Motor Company and now with Westport in pursuing that goal has not gone unnoticed. I also want to congratulate all of my fellow winners for their efforts.”

John began his journey with alternative fuel vehicles at Ford Motor Company, where he worked for 35 years. After pioneering the development of Ford’s program worldwide, from natural gas fleet vehicles to hydrogen buses, as well as playing a key role in development of Ford’s Qualifed Vehicle Modifer (QVM) and FlexFuel programs, John assumed the role of Director of Technology for the Clean Vehicle Education Foundation in 2009.

John’s current role at Westport includes the engineering and development of the bi-fuel (CNG/gasoline) Westport WiNG™ Power System out of Westport’s Michigan location.

In June, Westport acquired BAF Technologies, Inc. and its subsidiary, ServoTech Engineering, Inc., securing its position as Ford’s largest partner under the QVM program with over 10 products and approximately 150 Ford authorized dealerships. Westport also recently announced it will offer the newly launched natural gas powered Ford F-150 featuring the Westport WiNG™ Power System in both the United States and Canada.

Green Fleet magazine staff reviewed nominees who’ve achieved significant sustainability accomplishments and made innovative contributions to reducing emissions and fuel consumption. Overall industry involvement was also considered. The 40 award winners included commercial and public sector fleet managers as well as vendors and suppliers. They will be featured in the upcoming issue of Green Fleet magazine.

The complete list of award winners can be viewed here: http://www.greenfleetmagazine.com/news/51732/2013-sustainability-all-star-award-winners-announced-at-green-fleet-conference?utm_campaign=Breaking-News-20131002&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Enewsletter