The keys to a pickup truck that runs on both gasoline and compressed natural gas were handed to Transportation and Highways Minister Harry Lali today in a ceremony marking a major step in the ministry's move to operating its entire vehicle fleet on alternate fuels. This year we've ordered 150 cars and trucks that will be able to use either propane or natural gas as well as gasoline. It's a big step towards the ministry's changeover to alternate fuel vehicles.
Governments have a responsibility to lead the drive toward greenhouse gas reduction.
We are taking that responsibility seriously and moving toward lower-emission vehicles under our alternate fuel policy. The cars and trucks ordered from Ford and General Motors will replace aging vehicles in the Ministry of Transportation and Highway's light fleet of 532 vehicles, which are used across the province for things like avalanche control, maintenance evaluation and project management. The ministry will receive all 150 vehicles by mid-August. Lali said major car manufacturers have just recently started producing alternate fuel vehicles that meet the ministry's needs. Hybrid electric vehicles are also being ordered.