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.

A Canadian First: Westport Opens its Windsor Integration Centre for Bi-fuel Ford Pickups

Canada’s first and only plant to build compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles recognized under Ford’s Qualified Vehicle Modifier program opened its doors this week in Windsor Ontario. Industry, community and government leaders joined Westport Executive Vice President Ian Scott at the opening ceremony of the Westport Windsor Integration Centre on October 16, 2013.

The event marked a new phase in Canada’s natural gas vehicle movement.

Canadians will now be able to drive natural gas-powered new Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks with the Westport WiNG™ Power System. Previously these vehicles were only available in the United States.

Representatives from Ford of Canada, Encana Oil and Gas, Union Gas, Ferus Natural Gas Fuels, Enbridge Gas Distribution, the Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance and the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce helped cut the ribbon at the new 20,000 square foot facility.

“More and more, our customers are starting to ask for natural gas vehicles,” said Mike Traub, Director, Fleet Sales and Remarketing for Ford of Canada. “We’re glad we now have a product in Canada to offer them.”

Bob Bailey, member of Ontario provincial parliament for Sarnia-Lambton, also attended. He recently proposed Bill 97, the Natural Gas Superhighway Act. The bill includes a non-refundable tax credit for Ontarians who purchase medium and heavy-duty vehicles, using either liquefied natural gas (LNG) or CNG in Ontario.

“Everyone is here today – industry and community leaders – are all here to lead the way in the transition to natural gas vehicles in Canada,” said John Howell, Westport’s Senior Director of Marketing and Business Development. “Working together, we can help build the natural gas infrastructure, provide the support needed and educate Canadians to make natural gas vehicles a part of their everyday solution for transportation.”

Members of the Media Film a Ford F-250 Westport WiNG™ Power System Pickup Truck - Now for Sale in Canada.

Open for Business! Westport's Ian Scott and John Lapetz Cut the Ribbon, Opening the New Westport Windsor Integration Centre.