The Official Publication of the Clean Cities Network and the Alternative Fuels Data Center

Vol. 2 - No. 1

ALTERNATIVE FUEL NEWS

U. S. DEPARTMENT of ENERGY

The Official Publication of the Clean Cities Network and the Alternative Fuels Data Center

Kyoto

Protocol 

Kyoto

Protocol 

"What Does It Mean?" "What Does It Mean?"

Contribute Your Comments on the Upcoming Rulemaking

Auto Shows Were a Hit for the AFV Industry

GSA Helps Federal Fleets Acquire AFVs

Inside:

DOE Seeks

Input on E85

Action Plan

NT

Y

A

U

E OF ENERG

DEPARTM

E

NITED STAT S OFA

ERIC

M
iving in Washington, DC, it seems like each week brings a new, major question, challenge, or

problem for the President, Congress, or the “American people” to address, debate, or solve. Skimming

through the newspaper reveals the need to revise the tax code, balance the budget, and improve health

care. There is a challenge for better logging practices in the rain forests, and just what’s going to happen in

Iraq? Although this may be an intellectually stimulating environment, all too often there is little that we as

individuals have the power to influence.

Well, that’s not the case with the climate change issue, which splashed across every newspaper and

magazine during December and January. Climate change is our issue. This is something we can influence.

Here is a place where we can make a difference. I think our cover story headline hits the nail on the head in

stating, “Historic Kyoto Protocol Presents Opportunities for Cleaner Transportation Technologies.” Right

now in the 60 Clean Cities, you are working on a solution by promoting and using alternative fuel vehicles

(AFVs). And, maybe more importantly, you are setting the stage to introduce the advanced technology

vehicles of the next generation.

Our feature story, on new plans for E85 infrastructure, is a perfect example of how the hard work in and

around Clean Cities can directly affect the “global challenge” of climate change. By building new ethanol

refueling infrastructures, we can facilitate the use of more 85% ethanol fuel. The use of domestically produced renewable ethanol for E85 production significantly reduces tailpipe emissions that cause ozone and

carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming.

You may have noticed that Lee Slezak’s signature is missing this month. Lee has moved over to our vehicle testing and evaluation division here at DOE, where he will manage the advanced vehicle testing and

field operations programs. Although he’ll be missed at the Alternative Fuels Data Center, we’ll soon be

hearing special reports from him on the real-world characteristics and performance of advanced technology

vehicles that will be in showrooms early in the next century. The Data Center will also undergo a bit of an

organizational facelift. Cindy Riley from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (303-275-4491) has

assumed the management responsibilities, and she is planning an exciting new portfolio of informational

materials and “tools” to help influence the choice for AFVs.

Lastly, Clara Chun from our Oakland office will be moving on in her career. Many of you know her from

her work in California, but Clara has also been an instrumental and critical part of the National Clean Cities

Team for more than 3 years now. Although I wish her well, she will be dearly missed. Fortunately, Ernie

Rios (510-637-1950), a 10-year veteran of DOE and former director of the old San Francisco Regional Support

Office, will take over the reins. So, as you can see, we’re already off to an eventful and exciting year!

As usual, enjoy the issue.

2

Printed with a renewable-source ink on paper containing 

at least 50% wastepaper, including 20% postconsumer waste 

BR-425-23470

March 1998

L

CONTENTS

Jeff Hardy — 

National Clean Cities

Program Director

Cover:

“The Great Wave 

off of Kanagawa”

Hosukai

Cover Story: Historic Kyoto Protocol Presents Opportunities for Cleaner

Transportation Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Feature Story: DOE Seeks Input on E85 Action Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Departments: Federal News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

At the Pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

From the Automakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

From the Hill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Funding Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Clean Cities Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

From the States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Hot off the Press . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

On the Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Upcoming Conferences and Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Historic Kyoto Protocol Presents

Opportunities for Cleaner

Transportation Technologies

3

Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions present new opportunities for

the alternative transportation fuels industry. Responding to the vast majority of

the world’s climate scientists who believe human activities (primarily burning

fossil fuels) are adversely influencing global climate, 160 nations recently

reached a historic agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by harnessing the forces of the global marketplace to protect the environment. “[The

Kyoto Protocol] is environmentally strong and economically sound.... I am particularly pleased that it strongly reflects the commitment of the United States

to use the tools of the free market to tackle this difficult problem,” President

Clinton stated.

Because transportation is the second largest source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and is projected

to be the largest source by the year 2000 (according to the Energy Information Administration), transportation industries will have a critical role to play in helping the nation reach the U.S. emissions reduction targets. 

General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler recently demonstrated their understanding of the significance of

the Protocol as they unveiled concept designs for cleaner vehicles and showcased how U.S. industry can

find practical solutions to this problem (see From the Automakers). In response, Vice President Gore

applauded the Big Three for “introducing a new generation of highly efficient cars that will meet the

needs of America’s families while also meeting the challenge

of global warming. It shows that through ingenuity and innovation, American industry can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas pollution while strengthening our economy and

creating new jobs.”

Most importantly, the alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) built

by automakers today and already operating in Clean Cities,

can also help address climate change. Automakers and fuel

suppliers that are helping meet the nation’s urban air quality

and energy security goals can now market AFVs as part of the

nation’s climate change strategy.

More than 200,000 AFVs are on the road in the 60 U.S. communities participating in DOE’s Clean Cities Program. Each vehicle fuel technology—ethanol, natural gas,

propane, electric, and others—can provide net reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, technology and fuel suppliers are learning how to measure and communicate

these benefits to customers using AFVs, and create the necessary foundation to develop future markets for high fuel efficiency and advanced

technology vehicles.

In addition, policy developments on the horizon can be expected to

increase business opportunities for cleaner transportation technologies

and alternative fuels. This reinforces the proposal released in October,

which specifically targeted increased support for low-cost, lightweight

materials for vehicle frames, batteries, inexpensive fuel cells (including

new technology for using gasoline to power fuel cells), and advanced

internal combustion engines for use in hybrid vehicles.

In the future, the President’s proposal for domestic greenhouse gas

emissions trading (modeled after the Clean Air Act’s highly successful utility acid rain trading program)

could bring new investments in advanced transportation technologies. Trading rewards U.S. companies

that produce cleaner technologies through the sale of emissions reduction “credits” to those who need

them to comply with regulatory requirements. 

While policies unfold, the scientific need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will remain, as will the

challenges and opportunities this issue presents for clean energy and transportation technologies.

“I propose $6 billion in tax cuts

and research and development

to encourage innovation, renewable energy, fuel-efficient cars,

and energy-efficient homes.”

President Clinton,

State of the Union

“In light of the Kyoto agreement,

such advanced vehicles will play an

even more important role in meeting

national environmental goals while

preserving U.S. jobs.”

Dan Reicher,

Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency

and Renewable Energy, U.S. DOE

“We can help tackle this problem now with the alternative

fuel vehicles that are available

today and in the nation’s Clean

Cities.”

David Rodgers, Director

Office of Technology

Utilization, U.S. DOE
4

Comments Welcome on the

Rulemaking for Local Government and

Private Fleets

If fleet managers want to convert their delivery fleets to

an alternative fuel, they can. There is a variety of vehicles

and fuels from which to choose, with an array of tax incentives and deductions to help defer the costs of vehicle 

purchases. From the time the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) was

passed 6 years ago

and our nation’s

ambitious petroleum displacement

goals were established (see Box 1),

federal, state, and

voluntary programs, such as

Clean Cities, have sought to help jumpstart the alternative

fuel vehicle (AFV) industry. We’ve made a lot of headway,

but there’s still a long way to go in order for EPAct goals to

be reached. AFVs will need to comprise 35%–40% of new

vehicle purchases, and AFV sales growth will have to double every year for the next 5 years—from approximately

30,000 to 500,000 AFV sales per year. Currently available

incentives are not large enough to induce this growth in the

AFV market. The private and local government fleet commitments to AFVs may be the key to reaching our nation’s

EPAct goals.

April 1, 1998, is the legal deadline for DOE to publish 

an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANOPR) that

starts the Department’s effort to consider implementing a

regulatory program for local

government and

private fleets.

Although private

fleet requirements

will undoubtedly

spark many

debates, they

could also ensure

significant growth

of the AFV market. This may be

an opportune time to implement private and local government fleet requirements because increasingly more AFVs

are available from the automakers.

EPAct outlines conditional requirements of municipal

and private fleets that may or may not be implemented

(see Box 2). Under the law, DOE has several options for

modifying the rule, including the choice to pursue no rule

at all. DOE must also consider the petroleum replacement

goals and whether or not to modify them. Each option

will be outlined in the ANOPR and open for public comment. Should DOE decide to pursue a rule, the modification options include: (1) changing the start date of the

program, thereby postponing the model year in which

fleets covered under the rule must start acquiring AFVs;

or (2) reducing the acquisition percentages specified in

EPAct section 507(g).

In addition to questions targeting feedback on local

government and private fleet AFV requirements, the

ANOPR will contain questions about including transit bus

fleets in the rulemaking. Transit buses are perfect applications for alternative fuel use (pre-determined routes and

central refueling), and they are already big players in the

alternative fuel market. Many fleets have begun replacing

their diesel-powered buses with alternative fuel buses. For

example, SunLine Transit Agency in Coachella Valley,

California, boasts a fleet that is 100% alternatively fueled.

In fact, according to the American Public Transit

Association, 22% of the new buses on order from January

to April 1998 are powered by alternative fuels—an

increase from 13.9% in 1996.

After the ANOPR is published, DOE will collect input

from the public for 90 days. The ANOPR will give a mailing address for written comments. Three separate hearings

will be held in different cities, providing forums for people

to voice their opinions and offer suggestions to DOE. Due

to the vast number of fleets affected by the proposed 

ruling, the hearings should be very well attended. “These

hearings will offer the public an excellent chance to voice

their opinions to DOE in person,” said Ken Katz, DOE’s

program manager for EPAct rulemaking and compliance.

“The hearings also provide an opportunity for DOE to ask

questions that will clarify or amplify a comment made, 

and thus enable DOE to use that information as it considers

options for the fleet program.” Refer to upcoming issues 

of Alternative Fuel News for hearing dates and locations,

and keep checking the Federal Register at www.epa.gov/

fedrgstr for the announcement and publication of the 

rulemaking and hearing date information.

After the ANOPR comments are reviewed, DOE has until

May 1, 1999, the legal deadline for publishing a Notice of

Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) in the Federal Register. The

NOPR, if published, would be a draft rule resulting from

DOE’s findings during the ANOPR comment review phase.

The draft would outline the specifics of any proposed regulatory program, and ask for additional public comment.

Following the NOPR public comment period, DOE would

have to publish a final rule on or before January 1, 2000, for

Federal News

EPAct section 507(g)—conditional 

AFV acquisition requirements for local

government and private fleets: 

• 20% of new vehicle acquisitions must

be AFVs in model year (MY) 2002

• 40% in MY 2003

• 60% in MY 2004

• 70% in MY 2005 and thereafter

EPAct Section 502 outlines the nation’s

petroleum displacement goals: 

• 10% replacement fuel use by 2000

• 30% replacement fuel use by 2010

Box 1

Box 2
5

it to be considered effective. “The local government and private fleet program can be a vital component in the nation’s

efforts to decrease petroleum dependency,” said Katz. “The

Clean Cities network can help facilitate this program via

education, advocacy, and early adoption of AFVs.”

GSA Helps Federal Fleets

Acquire AFVs

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) held a

meeting last December to outline AFVs available to federal

fleet customers in 1998. GSA leases vehicles to its federal

customers through the Interagency Fleet Management

System (IFMS). GSA increased its AFV lineup to meet

EPAct and Executive Order demands, which in 1998

require 50% of all covered fleet light-duty vehicle purchases to be AFVs. The new lineup has additional vehicles and

more flexibility than last year, helping fleet managers meet

their specific vehicle needs (see box).

GSA will allow fleet managers to purchase the midsized flexible-fuel Taurus in lieu of their normal compact

purchases. However, the higher cost of leasing a mid-sized

vehicle instead of a compact must be made up by higher

payments in the first lease year. Fleet managers can still

obtain AFVs by purchasing them through GSA’s

Automotive Division (formerly the Automotive Center). 

AFVs Available through GSA IFMS

Sedans

Ford Contour (compact, bi-fuel, natural gas)

Ford Crown Victoria (full-size, dedicated natural gas)

Ford Taurus (mid-size, flexible-fuel, ethanol, or methanol)

Trucks

Ford Ranger (compact, electric)

Chevrolet S10 (compact, electric)

Chevrolet C2500 (full-size, bi-fuel, natural gas)

Ford F250 (full-size, dedicated, natural gas)

Minivans

Chrysler Grand Caravan (mid-size, flexible-fuel, ethanol)

Full-Size Vans (passenger and cargo)

Ford E250 (full-size passenger, dedicated, natural gas)

Ford E350 (full-size cargo, dedicated, natural gas)

Freightliner MT45 (medium-duty cargo, dedicated, natural gas)

At the Pump

DART’s New Facilities Are Truly Texan

The first of two 30,000-gallon, above-ground liquefied

natural gas (LNG) storage tanks was installed at the Dallas

Area Rapid Transit (DART) LNG refueling station. Built by

Lone Star Energy, a Texas Utilities Company, the facility

will service 210 LNG buses that DART will procure under

separate contracts. The LNG used to fuel the buses is produced at the Amoco Chemical Chocolate Bayou plant near

Alvin, Texas, and transported to the DART facility by

LNG-powered tractor trailers. The buses are expected to

consume up to 12 million gallons of LNG over 5 years as

part of the contract with Lone Star Energy. “The DART

commitment to LNG will showcase to other heavy-duty

fleet operators the advantages of using alternative fuels

and contribute to improving the air quality in the Dallas/

Fort Worth metroplex,” said DOE’s Dan Deaton. “I believe

this project is unique in that the heavy-duty trucks that

will haul the LNG to Dallas were converted to LNG utilizing Clean Cities Program funds received by Lone Star

Energy, an active stakeholder in the Dallas/Fort Worth

Clean Cities coalition.” The station is scheduled to be operational by March 1998, and the buses should be delivered

later this Spring. For more information, contact Stan

Taylor, Lone Star Energy Company Alternative Fuels

Division, at 214-573-3854.

New Technologies Are Right around

the Corner

IMPCO Technologies, Inc. announced the opening of its

new gaseous fuel technology center in Irvine, California.

The new center focuses on the development and manufacture of automotive original equipment manufacturer fuel

systems and fuel storage vessels, and provides advanced

fuel system technology for heavy-duty engines, forklifts

and small industrial engines. The center employs more

than 100 professionals and has state-of-the-art testing

equipment and laboratories. IMPCO is diversifying its

products and services to meet global demands for cleanburning, energy-efficient technologies. IMPCO recently

acquired two alternative fuel companies to diversify its

product line and fully service the growing Mexican and

Latin American markets. IMPCO is also teaming with

General Motors on domestic and international ventures,

including the development of a bi-fueled Chevrolet

Cavalier. For more information, contact Dale Rasmussen

at 206-575-1594, extension 306.
6

Electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles

(HEVs) were popular themes at the Los Angeles and

Detroit Auto Shows held back-to-back in January. Both

auto shows focused on environmentally friendly vehicles

with advanced automotive technologies. The automakers

demonstrated commitment to more energy-efficient and

less polluting transportation. 

Both General Motors’ (GM) and

Honda’s EV exhibits were well attended.

The GM EV1, available only through leasing, was a key attraction at GM’s Saturn

exhibit as EV1 owners shared their driving

experiences. Honda’s exhibit also drew

crowds as attendees asked questions about

the EV Plus, which is currently available in

California through a pilot lease program.

The Prius, Toyota’s new HEV, was

accompanied by an elaborate show highlighting the propulsion system. The display, with the help of video, component

cutaways, and moving parts, showed how

the hybrid system actually works.

Currently, the Prius is being sold only in

Japan, but it may be available in the United

States through a 1999 pilot program.

DOE’s Office of Transportation

Technologies (OTT) exhibit, which featured

a student-built HEV, also attracted much

interest. The vehicle, built by the University of

California–Davis, won first place in OTT’s 1997 Future Car

Challenge, a student engineering competition in which

college students competed to build an 80-mpg fuelefficient vehicle that performs like a traditional vehicle.

Engineering students, representatives from OTT’s Office

of Technology Utilization, and California Clean Cities’

stakeholders answered questions about HEVs and

explained the program’s involvement in developing

fuel-efficient and alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs).

Consumers were especially excited about hybrids; many

said they would buy them when they become available to

the public. 

At the Detroit Auto Show, the automakers reinforced

their commitment to advanced automotive technologies.

GM showcased its advanced vehicles and EVs in a hightech video display featuring parallel and series hybrids,

and methanol-powered fuel cell concept vehicle technologies. GM’s EV1 was outfitted with an Ovonic nickel metal

hydride battery, which could increase the EV1’s range to

120–160 miles per charge. “Our family of clean car options

is growing fast,” said Jack Smith, GM’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. “This year, we’re phasing

in nickel metal hydride batteries to our pioneering vehicles, the EV1 and S10 electric truck, and we plan to have a

production-ready HEV by 2001.”

Ford unveiled its P2000 DIATA, a mid-sized HEV

weighing 40% less than a standard mid-size sedan with a

fuel economy of 63 mpg. The P2000 has an aluminum

direct-injected compression ignition engine and lightweight body parts. Ford also displayed a fuel cell-powered

P2000. “Later this year we’ll have an electric hybrid powered version of the P2000 on the road. And by 2000, we

From the Automakers:

AFVs Were a Hit at the Auto Shows

Photo courtesy of John Hampton, Abacus Technology/PIX 05467

Detroit Auto Show—GM’s prototype fuel cell concept vehicle
7

will have a fuel cell version that produces no emissions

other than water vapor,” said Jack Nasser, Ford

Automotive Operations president. 

Chrysler displayed its Dodge Intrepid ESX2 sedan,

which uses lightweight composite plastics and a dieselelectric hybrid engine to meet future vehicle emission

requirements and achieve up to 70 mpg. 

Domestic automakers are currently working together to

develop hybrids through the Partnership for a New

Generation of Vehicles (PNGV), a government/industry

partnership between the Big Three automakers (Chrysler,

Ford, and GM) and DOE. The partnership’s goal is to

develop and bring to market a prototype 80-mpg vehicle

by model year 2004. As shown by the demonstration of

vehicles at the early 1998 auto shows, the new concept

vehicles have significant technological advancements.

However, these vehicles will be required to achieve the

more ambitious PNGV goal of a safe, reliable, costcompetitive 80-mpg vehicle with very low emissions

and a 100,000-mile vehicle life.

Ford Offers E85

Muscle Car

You better not blink when

you see Ford’s future E85

offering, or you might miss it!

Ford unveiled its Mustang

Super Stallion concept car

at the Los Angeles Auto

Show in January. The vehicle comes equipped with a

545-horsepower 5.4-liter

engine with the E85 flexiblefuel option. The Super

Stallion can do the quarter

mile in a mere 13 seconds;

whoever thought AFVs could

be so much fun! The Stallion

will be offered in limited

quantities in model year

1999. For more details, call

your local Ford dealer or the

National Alternative Fuels

Hotline at 800-423-1DOE.

Ford FFV Taurus

Sales Look Good

for 1998

According to Ford representatives, favorable sales figures are expected for the

flexible-fuel Taurus for 1998.

The Taurus is one of the

favorites of federal fleet

managers who will be using

these vehicles to meet EPAct

purchasing requirements.

The Taurus FFV has no

increased incremental cost,

which makes it an attractive

option for fleet managers

concerned about the bottom

line. The flexible-fuel concept (a fuel system that can

run on 85% alcohol, gasoline,

or a combination of both)

gives drivers fuel flexibility

without additional costs.

Ford Announces

AFV Incentives

for 1998

Ford has announced incentives for 1998 model year

AFVs reaching $2,000 per

vehicle. The car prices, 

different for each model, are

based on the reengineering

cost of each vehicle built to

run on a specific fuel. The

incentives include $1,000 for

the flexible-fuel Taurus, and

either $1,500 or $2,000 for the

other AFVs. Also, the Ford EV

Ranger has a $5,000 incentive

off the actual price! For more

information on Ford AFV

incentives call 800-ALT-FUEL.

Does America

Want Ford's E85

Windstar?

Ford is currently testing prototype E85 Windstars in several test fleets throughout the

Midwest. So far the vehicles

are performing well, according to Rob Seiter of Ford

Motor Company. “Some of

the vehicles have logged

more than 15,000 miles and

are performing flawlessly.”

Most of the fuel system and

engine emission control technology comes from the E85

Taurus, which has a history

of reliable performance. One

of the goals of the demonstration project is to evaluate

consumer response to the

product. Commercialization of

the E85 Windstar will depend

on an evaluation of market

potential for the vehicle.

Model Incremental Cost

Flexible-fuel

Taurus $165

Dedicated

F Series NGV $3,520

Econoline Van NGV $4,245

Crown Victoria NGV $4,665

Bi-fuel

F Series NGV $4,625

Econoline Van NGV $5,465

F Series Truck LPG $4,265

Econoline Van LPG $4,155

Ford Moves into the Fast Lane
8

It’s the classic chicken and egg story. Vehicles

first, then stations? Or is it build the stations and the

vehicles will follow, as in “if you build it, they will

come?” It’s a scenario that the alternative fuel vehicle industry has grappled with for several years.

It seems that now, at least for one alternative fuel,

the dilemma may be over. Ethanol industry stakeholders, together with DOE, are developing a plan

that could lead to the widespread use of E85 flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) by the general public. This

partnership is particularly timely as the conference

in Kyoto (see cover story) has drawn much attention

to climate change issues, and E85, as a domestically

produced, renewable fuel, can mitigate potential

problems associated with climate change.

In June 1997, Chrysler announced that for the

1998 model year, all of its 3.3-liter minivans will be

FFVs, capable of running on either E85 or gasoline

at no additional cost. All will be E85-ready, which

means as many as 200,000 new vehicles in major

metropolitan areas across the country in the next

year alone, a giant leap for the E85 vehicle market.

Ford will extend the leap even further in model year

1999, when all of its 3.0-liter V-6 Ford Ranger pickups will be E85-ready.

But where will these vehicles refuel? At the time

of the automakers’ announcement, there were just

38 public E85 refueling stations and 29 privat stations, mostly in the Midwest. Very few of these 

stations were located in major cities, only one in

California, and none in the northeastern or southern

states. That may have been fine for the approximately 10,000 E85 vehicles on the road, but what about

20 times that number? According to industry stakeholders, if all the Chrysler minivans used the E85

option all the time, the demand for E85 would

increase by about 150 million gallons per year—the

equivalent of approximately 100 stations.

With this in mind, 

a group of ethanol

stakeholders including the Governors’

Ethanol Coalition, the

National Corn

Growers Association,

the National Ethanol

Vehicle Coalition,

and DOE, are developing a plan to significantly expand the

availability of ethanol

and encourage use of

the E85 option in

new vehicles. The

plan is called the

Action Plan to Promote

the Development and Use of E85 Refueling

Infrastructure (E85 Action Plan), and is now 

available in draft form for public comment.

The plan aims to identify several major metropolitan areas where a significant number of the new

FFVs can use E85 most of the time. E85 infrastructure could then be placed in these “high priority”

areas with increased confidence that many vehicles

will take advantage of the E85 option, laying a 

foundation for the expanded use of E85 as a transportation fuel.

The strategic approach of the E85 Action Plan

outlines proposed criteria for determining the high

priority areas for infrastructure investment. It offers

suggestions for determining areas that would best

respond to E85 infrastructure investment, and ways

in which industry stakeholders can ensure sufficient

throughput of the new stations.

Your input and buy-in are needed to move forward with the implementation of the action plan.

“The large-scale introduction of flexible fuel vehicles

is a challenge to the ethanol producers and retailers—if they can provide a significant amount of fuel

for this emerging market—they may well guarantee

significant ethanol use in light-duty vehicles for

DOE Seeks Input

on E85 Action Plan 

The Chrysler E85

minivan.The White

House showed support for the alternative fuel program by

purchasing 30

Chrysler E85 minivans. The U.S.

General Services

Administration (GSA)

purchased the 1998

minivans for the

White House fleet.

Federal employees

working on Capitol

Hill are driving them

today!

Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company/PIX 05149

Ford’s E85 Ranger Pickup

The Chrysler E85 minivan

Photo courtesy of Chrysler Corporation/PIX05467
9

years to come,” said David Rodgers, director of

DOE’s Office of Technology Utilization. The potential for success is enormous. Widespread public

availability of these vehicles, strategically located

refueling stations, and effective education and outreach to alert people of these vehicles and the benefits of their use could mean a turning point for the

AFV industry. The summit in Kyoto has brought climate change issues to the forefront and set the stage

for clean burning, domestically produced renewable

fuels to penetrate the market. With a strong industry

partnership and the right plan, E85 FFVs will be the

breakthrough AFVs to be widely used.

To obtain a copy of the E85 Action Plan, call the National Alternative Fuels Hotline at 800-423-1DOE, or check out the

Office of Transportation Technologies web site at www.ott.doe.gov/news/actionplan.html. Send your comments to

U.S. Department of Energy, EE-34, 1000 Independence Ave., S.W., 20585, ATTN: E85 Action Plan, or e-mail them to 

afv-deployment@hq.doe.gov.

From the Hill

Converted Vehicles Subject

to New Rules

There have been diverse reactions to EPA’s

Addendum to Memorandum 1A, which tightened

the certification standards for vehicle conversions.

Many people are still adjusting to the more stringent

EPA guidelines, particularly because converted vehicles won’t count toward EPAct compliance unless

they meet EPA conversion standards. Furthermore,

EPA has set stiff penalties for noncompliance:

$25,000 for manufacturers and $2,500 for individuals

(per infraction). 

Some industries, such as the propane (LPG)

industry, are hit harder than others. There are

approximately 250,000 propane vehicles in the

United States, most of which are conversions. The

addendum will severely limit the availability of conversion kits in the short term. However, new LPG

vehicles from Ford may help meet LPG vehicle

demand. Some companies have changed their business strategies in order to comply with EPA guidelines. Companies are slimming down the number of

vehicle applications for which they offer kits, and

sell only the more popular conversion kits. Industry

experts have forecasted that smaller companies will

join together to merge capital and human resources. 

If you are a fleet manager who relies on vehicle

conversions, get proof from your vendor that the

conversion kits you purchase are EPA certified.

Otherwise these conversions will have no value

toward EPAct requirements and EPA could fine 

you. If you have any questions about conversions,

call the National Alternative Fuels Hotline at 

800-423-1DOE, or browse the Alternative Fuels 

Data Center web site at: www.afdc.doe.gov.

CMAQ Funds Are Still Alive

On December 1, 1997, President Clinton signed 

a 6-month extension to the Intermodal Surface

Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). The extension, referred to as the Surface Transportation

Extension Act of 1997, permits the allocation of 

federal transportation funds to continue through

May 1, 1998, and allows surplus funds to be spent

through July 1, 1998. These funds, totaling approximately $15.5 billion, are being used for various 

programs including CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation

and Air Quality) projects. 

Tommy Foltz, president of Clean Fuels Strategies,

stated, “People should continue to apply because if

1998 surplus funds still exist, stakeholders can get

funding for alternative fuel-related projects, and

send a message to Congress about the importance 

of reauthorizing the program.” According to Mike

Savonis, of DOT’s Federal Highway Administration,

“The serious competition for CMAQ funds demonstrates the continued viability and importance of 

the CMAQ program.”

The extension bill is a positive action in that 

it allows states to continue obligating federal 

transportation funds; however, the extension is 

temporary. The current version of the Act, referred

to as ISTEA 2, is now being debated in Congress. 

To learn more about ISTEA, visit the web site at

www.istea.org. For more information on how to

apply for funding, contact your local metropolitan

planning organization, state DOT, or local office of

the Federal Highway Administration.
10

SEP Grants Promote Partnerships

One of the great attributes of the Clean Cities

Program is that it brings together all the key players

of the AFV market. State Energy Offices are among

those key players. One way Clean Cities works with

states is through the State Energy Program (SEP)

Special Projects grant program. For the third year,

DOE’s Office of State and Community Programs, in

conjunction with the Clean Cities Program, is offering

approximately $2 million for projects that help accelerate the introduction or increase the use of AFVs.

The benefits of the program are twofold: (1) it

helps Clean Cities coalitions leverage funds to foster

development of their local AFV markets, including

projects to get more AFVs on the road, install infrastructure, develop educational tools, and build the

organizational capacity of local coalitions; and (2) it

helps strengthen the relationship between the federal,

state, and local governments, and Clean Cities private-sector partners. Selected projects are funded as

part of the state’s SEP, so cities must work with their

State Energy Offices on proposal development. “As a

former state energy official, I know firsthand the

value and important role states play in building longterm public and private partnerships to create new

markets for energy-efficient technologies. Clean Cities

has a lot to gain from the experience and leadership

of the State Energy Offices,” said Marcy Rood, deputy

director of the National Clean Cities Program. “In

regard to alternative fuel markets, State Energy

Offices have provided leadership by offering guidance on AFV regulations, information on AFV products to public and private fleets, and support to their

local Clean Cities, all of which is most appreciated,”

said Rood, “I know we couldn’t do it without them!”

Also unique to this year’s SEP funding is a partnership between the Clean Cities Program and DOE’s

Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP).

FEMP/Clean Cities are interested in funding three

pilot programs that would develop a process to allow

easy adoption of energy service performance contracting legislation for local and state facilities, and nonprofit schools and hospitals.

Awards for both the Alternative Fuels Special

Projects and the FEMP SEP Special Projects are available only to designated Clean Cities coalitions or

groups that have submitted a formal application for

official Clean Cities status. Winners will be announced

this March, and will be highlighted in our next issue.

For information on next year’s SEP, call Dorothy

Wormley at 202-586-7028.

ICLEI Award Winners Announced

The U.S. Office of the International Council for

Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) has awarded

$250,000 in grants to 10 U.S. cities and counties under

the Transportation Solutions Grant Program (see box

for winners). The program is offered annually though

ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection Campaign-U.S.,

with funding provided by EPA’s Transportation

Partners and DOE’s Office of Transportation

Technologies and Clean Cities Program.

Ninety-five U.S. local governments competed 

for the grant funding to support projects that incorporate alternative fuels, alternative fuel vehicles, 

or other technologies to reduce vehicle travel, air 

pollutants, and greenhouse gas emissions. The 10

projects chosen involve a variety of transportation

solutions, including electric cars, buses, and bicycles; propane and compressed natural gas-powered

shuttle vans; and telecommuting. Each project will

help reduce the negative impacts of urban transportation on local air quality, global warming, and

the quality of urban life. For more information on

how to apply for funds under the ICLEI program,

call Matt Nichols, ICLEI Sustainable Transportation

Program Coordinator, at 510-540-8843.

Funding Opportunities

ICLEI Award Winners

Mesa, Arizona

Telecommuting project $25,000

Berkeley, California

Electric Station Car Project $30,000

Los Angeles, California

Traffic Enforcement Officers on Bicycles $14,500

San Jose, California

Electric Vehicle Recharging Stations $17,500

Fort Collins, Colorado

Propane-powered Shuttle Van Service $32,000

Miami Beach, Florida

Electrowave Electric Bus System $25,000

Maplewood, New Jersey

Natural Gas-Powered Community Jitney Service $25,000

New York City, New York

Natural Gas-Powered Shuttle Service $30,000

Schenectady County, New York

Natural-Gas Shuttle for Welfare-to-Work $28,000

Salt Lake City, Utah

Police Officers on Electric Bicycles $23,000
11

EPA Pollution Prevention Can Help

Clean Cities

The EPA is soliciting grant proposals under the

Environmental Justice through Pollution Prevention

(EJP2) grant program. This program is designed to

support pollution prevention approaches that

address environmental justice concerns in affected

communities. EPA anticipates that as much as $4

million will be available in FY 1998. Cost sharing is

no longer required. EPA strongly encourages cooperative efforts between communities, businesses,

industry, and government to address common pollution prevention goals. Applications are due April 20,

1998. For more information contact Louise Little at

703-841-0483, or go to www.epa.gov/opptintr/ejp2.

l Long Island. On December 2, the Long Island

Clean Cities coalition hosted its first Alternative

Fuel Vehicle Funding and Acquisition Clinic.

This “how-to” workshop was developed to

inform fleet owners and operators of the 1998

funding opportunities available for alternative

fuel vehicles (AFVs) on Long Island. The clinic

included information on AFV grant programs

and tax incentives available from the federal and

state governments, fuel providers, and vehicle

manufacturers. A ride and drive featuring electric

vehicles (EVs), compressed natural gas, and

propane vehicles afforded participants a handson experience with the technologies available

for their fleets in the coming year. Local dealers

and auto manufacturers were also available to

discuss vehicle offerings, delivery dates, and purchase costs. More than 160 people attended the

event, which was covered by local television

and newspapers.

l Los Angeles. The City of Los Angeles recently

received the Governor’s Environmental and

Economic Leadership Award in the “Environmental Economic Partnership” category for its

Quick Charge L.A. Program. The award,

California’s most prestigious environmental

honor, was established in 1993 by Governor Pete

Wilson to recognize outstanding achievements

that successfully balance environmental protection and conservation with sustainable economic

development. Under Quick Charge L.A., 29

public and private sector partners are working to

develop EV infrastructure throughout the region

in areas including shopping malls, hospitals,

universities, office buildings, event centers, 

transit centers, and employers. The City of Los

Angeles is also introducing 59 EVs into various

departments including airports, harbor,

transportation, water and power, and the zoo.

l Florida Gold Coast. Miami’s “Electrowave,”

Florida’s first electric shuttle bus system, began

service on February 1 of this year. The

Electrowave provides residents and visitors

access to the many attractions in South Beach free

of charge, 365 days a year. The system consists of

seven fully air conditioned 22-passenger vehicles.

Each is a moving work of art, with the exterior

panels designed by one of five artists chosen in a

design competition. The Electrowave shuttle bus

system was developed by the Miami Beach

Transportation Management Association and the

City of Miami Beach, in partnership with the

Florida Gold Coast Clean Cities Coalition, the

Florida Departments of Transportation and

Environmental Protection, Florida Power & 

Light Company, Florida Alliance for Clean

Technologies, and the International Council 

for Local Environmental Initiatives.

l Central Oklahoma. The Central Oklahoma Kids

for Clean Cities initiative is already under way

for 1998. This year’s feature project involves a

partnership with students at Edmond Memorial

High School in Edmond, Oklahoma, to create a

Clean Cities magazine. Funded by a grant from

the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and

supplemented by advertising sales, the magazine will feature AFV fleets and businesses in

Oklahoma. The students plan to enter the completed magazine in the Oklahoma Interscholastic

Press Association’s annual student magazine

competition.

Clean Cities Roundup

Recharge Your EV While Staying at the Hilton

The Hilton Hotel Corporation is installing free electric vehicle (EV)

recharging stations in all its Southern California locations. The 

stations are funded by General Motors Corporation and have been

installed by Edison EV. The inductive chargers can fully recharge 

batteries in 1 hour.
12

New Jersey

Electrifies

Commuting with

Project: Power

Commute

The New Jersey

Department of

Transportation (DOT), in

conjunction with New

Jersey Transit and Transportation Management

Associations (TMAs), has implemented a $1.5 million pilot

project to promote commuter alternatives, decrease traffic

congestion, and improve air quality. Project: Power

Commute is geared toward closing the commuting gap

between train stations and the workplace by using electric

vehicles (EVs) as

shuttles driven by

employees from the

station to their

work, and back to

the station. 

Morristown, the

first location in New

Jersey to implement

the project, uses

Solectria Force EVs. The Solectria is a four-person sedan

with a 50-mile range, regenerative braking, and cabin preheat. Charging boxes will be installed both at the train stations and work locations.

The program benefits will greatly affect the people of

New Jersey by closing the transportation gap between

public transit and the workplace, reducing harmful automobile emissions, decreasing the number of singleoccupancy vehicles on our roadways, and creating a market for EVs in the state. “It's great to see this partnership

between government agencies and several private sector

organizations—this is what Clean Cities is all about,” said

James Ferguson, DOE Clean Cities program manager for

the Philadelphia Region. “This is just another example of

New Jersey’s leadership and commitment to alternative

fuels initiatives. The recently designated North Jersey

Clean Cities Program should really benefit from this

highly visible project,” he said.

Businesses that purchase the EVs at project end are eligible for a 10% alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) tax credit,

and would receive a tax deduction if they install a charging infrastructure. The TMAs will manage the project at

each location. For more information call: MCRIDES in

Morristown (973-267-7600), Cross County Connection in

Cherry Hill (609-596-8228), and Greater Mercer in West

Windsor (609-452-1491).

Clean Cities Program

Hits the Airwaves

Channel surfers in a few select cities may catch a

glimpse of the latest and greatest PBS series on alternative

fuels entitled, On the Road to Clean Cities for the 21st

Century. The series, a joint effort of the Clean Cities

Program, New Vision Communications, and The Jefferson

Energy Foundation, features video segments and panel

discussions on current issues in the AFV industry. Each

broadcast is taped in front of a live studio audience and

will be packaged as one segment in a series of town hall

meetings throughout the country. 

The series debuted on December 2 at the University of

California Riverside’s Studio Theater. This premiere show

was broadcast live to PBS channel KVCR in San

Bernardino and

Orange

Counties. It

opened with a

video segment

featuring David

Gergen, U.S.

News and World

Report, who

commented on

the connection

between the

transportation

sector and air

pollution.

William Cook,

also of U.S.

News and World

Report, then led

a panel discussion on the role

of alternative

fuels and AFVs in improving air quality and energy independence. For nearly 50 minutes, Bill Cook directed questions to the panelists and led an informative (and occasionally controversial) discussion on alternative fuels and

the role of AFVs in Southern California. Although the panelists agreed that there is a definite need and viable role

for AFVs, there were differences of opinion on the level of

From the States

N

J

ELECTRIC VEHICL

E

Project: Power Commute

Riverside Town Hall Panelists 

Doug Henderson

Western States Petroleum Association

William Keese

California Energy Commission

Mayor John Longville

City of Rialto

Dennis Minano

General Motors

Wayne Nastri

South Coast Air Quality

Management District

Dr. Joseph Norbeck

UC Riverside/CE-CERT

T. Boone Pickens

Pickens Fuel Corporation

David Rodgers

U.S. Department of Energy

Solectria Force EV
13

urgency, the degree to which these technologies can penetrate the market, and the timing of their introduction.

Much of the attention was turned to the development of

hybrid and fuel cell technologies. Although most of the

participants agreed that fuel cell technology is the ideal

alternative, the point was well made, especially by David

Rodgers, director of DOE’s Office of Technology

Utilization, that there are readily available alternatives to

gasoline today that can be very successful when placed in

the appropriate application. Comments made after the

show by the studio audience indicated that this message

was by far the most important.

The General Motors Innovention Center at EPCOT in

Orlando, Florida, was the setting for the second show of

the series, which was broadcast live to PBS stations in

Miami and Tampa Bay. This show had a special feature, 

as it dovetailed into the Electric Vehicle Symposium-14

(EVS-14), also held in Orlando. Following the general

introduction, the video featured scenes from the EVS-14

Exhibit Hall and provided an overview of EV technologies. After the

opening video,

moderator

David Gergen

led a lively

panel 

discussion on

the role of EVs

in improving 

air quality and

energy independence. Although

everyone agreed

that there is a

definite need

and a viable role

for EVs, the panelists differed

somewhat on

the feasibility 

of EV technologies, the level of

urgency for EVs,

the degree to

which these

technologies can

penetrate the market, and the timing of their introduction.

Attendees were provided with expert information on various battery technologies in addition to predictions of more

advanced technologies in the near future. Participants

touted hybrid and fuel cell technologies as very promising

future alternatives. 

“Future Fuels: Powering the Next Millennium,” aired

from Texas A&M University on January 23, 1998. This special third broadcast featured congressional participation.

Viewers tuned into PBS station KAMU in College Station,

Texas, to hear from Congressman Joe Barton (R) (who 

drives his own natural gas vehicle), as he joined seven

other panelists

in a lively discussion on the

past, present,

and future of

the natural gas

and propane

industries.

Following the

introduction

and video segments, Gergen

led the group in

a debate over

the potential

effects of compressed natural

gas andpropane

on mitigating

our nation’s air

quality problems and

dependence on foreign oil. There were mixed reviews on

whether natural gas and propane are the fuels of the

future, but all agreed that they are viable options that are

available today as a means to fight against air pollution

and decrease our oil imports. Guests cited the lack of infrastructure as one of the main barriers to market penetration.

Suggestions were made to focus future efforts on development of refueling stations, education for fleets on the benefits of AFVs, and explanation of the available incentives

needed for greater penetration. With these goals accomplished, natural gas and propane could indeed become

viable transportation fuels. 

The Clean Cities message will undoubtedly hit the television airwaves again soon. “This sort of public outreach

offers a special opportunity for the public to learn about

the scope of this new technology and how it’s becoming

part of our everyday lives,” said College Station panelist

Dick Moreau, of General Motors.

College Station Town Hall Panelists

Joe Barton

U.S. Congressman (R-TX)

Eugene Bissell

Amerigas

Jim Moore

Lone Star Gas

Dick Moreau

General Motors Corporation

Robert Newman

EA Engineering, Science, and 

Technology

Patrice “Pete”Parsons

Texas General Land Office

Marcy A. Rood

U.S. DOE’s Clean Cities Program

Tim Wood

Texas Propane Gas Association

Orlando Town Hall Panelists

Ken Baker

General Motors

John Bradley

University of South Florida, Center for

UrbanTransportation Research, and

Florida Sun Coast Clean

Cities Coordinator

James Gerwen

Lockheed Martin Power

& Drive Systems

Richard Moorer

U.S. Department of Energy

Marvin Rush

Electric Vehicle Club of California

Robert Stempel

Energy Conversion Devices

Bob Suggs

Florida Power & Light

John Wallace

Ford, and EVS-14 Chair

51 80

60

41

68

31E

27

68

80

23

25E

402

24

65

71

75

64

Wickliffe

Walton

Maysville

Lexington

Grayson

Pikeville

Middlesboro

Mt. Vernon

Somerset

Danville

Richmond

Frankfort Louisville

Elizabethtown Owensboro

Morganfield

Madisonville

Paducah

Mayfield

Cadiz Hopkinsville

Bowling

Green

Russellville

Glasgow Barbourville

Ethanol Refueling Station Opens 

in Kentucky’s Capital

Kentucky’s capital city of Frankfort recently opened its first

ethanol facility. The new station is privately owned with full

public access. So far fuel sales have been limited to stateowned vehicles. The station is the second E85 station in 

Kentucky; the other 

station is located in 

Louisville.
14

Biofuels for the Global Environment

DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory has produced a new ethanol fact sheet entitled, Bioethanol—The

Climate Cool Fuel. The document explains the effects of

greenhouse gases on our global climate, and outlines how

bioethanol limits the production of greenhouse gases by

reducing and recycling carbon dioxide emissions. Copies 

of this fact sheet (document 3664) are available from the

National Alternative Fuels Hotline at 800-423-1DOE.

DOE Report Helps Clarify EPAct

Sometimes the big picture is confusing, especially

EPAct’s oil displacement goals for 2010. DOE has made it

easier to understand EPAct with the Replacement Fuel and

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Technical and Policy Analysis. This

document outlines the how, why, and when of petroleum

displacement. Both the Overview and Summary (document 3661), and the full text (document 3657) are available

on the World Wide Web at www.afdc.doe.gov, or through

the National Alternative Fuels Hotline at 800-423-1DOE.

New Case Study about CNG Vehicles

DOE’s Office of Technology Utilization recently published Tests Demonstrate Safety of Natural-Gas Vehicles for

King County Police. This case study tells you how converted Chevrolet Caprice Classics performed in this highdemand application as police vehicles in and around the

Seattle, Washington, area. Call the National Alternative

Fuels Hotline at 800-423-1DOE for this study. This and

other case studies are also available on the World Wide

Web at www.ott.doe.gov/showcase.html under

“Showcasing Transportation Technologies.”

EVs through the Eyes of Child

The decision to purchase an alternative fuel vehicle

(AFV) may seem a lot less complicated through the eyes

of a five-year-old. Daniel and His Electric Car, written by

DOE’s own Ann Hegnauer and published in partnership

with General Motors,

is the story of a little

boy who goes with his

dad to the Saturn

dealership looking for

a small, red car they

can use for short family trips. Sounds like a

job for GM’s EV1,

right? Young readers

can learn all about

electric vehicles (EVs)

and how they work as

the dealer takes Daniel

for a test ride in an

EV1. “Our public outreach efforts to promote AFV use must

also consider our

nation’s future drivers,” said Hegnauer. “Not only can

kids influence their parents’ choices, but a few years down

the road when it’s time for them to get behind the wheel,

they will hopefully make the AFV choice.” To obtain a

copy of Daniel and His Electric Car, contact Ann Hegnauer

at 202-586-8014, or e-mail your request to ann.hegnauer@

hq.doe.gov.

Hot off the Press

Electric Vehicle International Challenge (EVIC)

The Electric Vehicle International Challenge (EVIC) brought together more than 50 elementary, middle, and

high school teams to compete in designing electric vehicles. The major sponsors for the event were the DOE’s

Clean Cities and Student Vehicle programs, Florida Power and Light, and Toyota. The Southern Coalition for

Advanced Transportation was the managing organization, which comprises businesses, universities, and government entities to develop advanced transportation technologies for global markets.

The EVIC included educational forum sessions and various competitions that were held in Orlando, Florida,

on December 11–14, 1997 in conjunction with EVS-14, the world’s largest conference and exhibition devoted to

electric and hybrid electric vehicles. The events were broken down into elementary, middle, and high school

levels. The vehicle competition included design, troubleshooting, acceleration, slalom driving, and presentation. The focus of EVIC was to join today’s students with the technological advancements in the automobile

industry to help increase partnerships between industry and education. Of 13 competing schools, the overall

winner was Northampton East High School in Conway, North Carolina.
15

Get AFN On-Line!

www.afdc.doe.gov

Do you have Internet access, an e-mail address? Do you

want to save your tax dollars? Do you want to see the next

issue of Alternative Fuel News before the hardcopy

edition is mailed?

If so, just send your e-mail address to hotline@

afdc.nrel.gov. We’ll let you know via e-mail when the new

Alternative Fuel News is available in the electronic version

on our web site at: www.afdc.doe.gov/AltFuelNews. If

you would like to receive a copy of Alternative Fuel News in

the mail, send us your mailing address too. If you no

longer wish to receive Alternative Fuel News, ask us to

remove you from our mailing list. For more information

regarding Alternative Fuel News, call the National

Alternative Fuels Hotline at 800-423-1DOE. 

Pure Energy Corporation

www.pure-energy.com

The Pure Energy Corporation’s P-series fuel is a 

blend of natural gas liquids, ethanol, and other biomassderived chemicals that are substantially renewable and

domestically produced. It has been designed to operate in

flexible-fuel vehicles and can be mixed with gasoline. The

ozone-forming potential of the emissions is boasted to be

50% lower than reformulated gasoline. For more information visit the “About Our Fuels” and “FAQs” sections of

the site.

The 1998 Greater Los Angeles Auto

Show/Detroit Auto Show

www.laautoshow.com or www.theautochannel.com

You may have missed the auto shows that were held 

in January, but it’s not too late to stroll through the shows

on the web. Several original equipment manufacturers

showcased electric and hybrid vehicles. The web site also

covers the Automobiles and the Environment conference

that was held at the Los Angeles show. This site has everything from press releases and pictures, to direct links to the

original equipment manufacturers’ homepages.

Hank Hill’s Propane Page

soli.inav.net/~penfold/andy/koth.html

This is a down-to-earth approach to alternative fuels. 

As you may know, Hank Hill is the title character of Fox’s

show “King of the Hill.” The character proudly sells

propane and propane accessories in Texas. The sound clips

on this site may be fun and games, but there are some serious links to propane sites.

Don’t forget!

www.ott.doe.gov/credits/index.html

DOE’s AFV Acquisitions and Credits Database provides

you with a convenient way to report your AFV acquisitions electronically. Check it out at www.ott.doe.gov

/credits/index.html.

On the Web
16

National Alternative Fuels and 

Clean Cities Hotline

9300 Lee Highway

Fairfax, VA 22031-1207

S F T W

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14

21

28

13 12 11 10

20 19 18 17

27 26 25

Upcoming

Conferences 

and Events

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? 

Call the National Alternative Fuels Hotline at 800-423-1DOE or the Clean Cities Hotline at 800-CCITIES

Check out the Alternative Fuels Data Center web site at www.afdc.doe.gov or the Clean Cities web site at www.ccities.doe.gov.

SAE/NESEA – Making Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Commercially Available

May 7–8, 1998

Crowne Plaza Hotel La Guardia

Queens, New York

Contact: SAE, 724-772-7148

NESEA 10th Annual American Tour de Sol

The U.S. Electric Vehicle Championship

May 8–14, 1998

New York to Washington, DC

Contact: Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, 413-774-6051

National Association of Fleet Resale Dealers 

1998 Spring Conference

May 2, 1998

Four Seasons Olympic Hotel

Seattle, Washington

Contact: Mark Engle, 847-375-4729

Fourth National Clean Cities Stakeholders 

Conference & Exposition

May 31–June 3, 1998

(see ad this page)

1998 Windsor Workshop on Alternative 

Transportation Fuels

June 8–10, 1998

Toronto, Ontario Canada 

Contact: Susan Horton, 905-822-4111 Ext. 515

For more information on these events visit the Alternative Fuels Data

Center web site at www.afdc.doe.gov.

Mark your calendar now for the

4th National Clean Cities

Stakeholders Conference and

Exposition in Washington, DC

May 31–June 3, 1998

The J.W. Marriott is the hosting hotel. Call the

hotel directly for room reservations at 202-393-

2000. The conference sessions will be held at

the adjacent Ronald Reagan Building and

International Trade Center.

Learn from the successes of the nation’s 60

Clean Cities and experience firsthand the

chance to meet and network with policy makers

and lawmakers in the nation’s capital.

We are expecting this to be the biggest and

best Clean Cities Conference ever. So don’t

miss out on this great opportunity to meet 

people from all areas of the alternative fuels

and vehicles industries. To receive future 

conference information regarding registration,

exhibiting, or sponsorship, call the

Clean Cities Hotline at 800-CCITIES.