Electric cars have received a welcome endorsement from one of the most important sources in the world – the US Army.
The Army has decided to lease 4,000 electric vehicles for use on its military bases with Chrysler LLC receiving the initial nod to supply six vehicles. Its plug-in rechargeable car’s call of duty is simple – to help the Army achieve a reduction in fuel consumption by two per cent by 2015.
The vehicles will go into the on-base transportation fleets. According to Army secretary Paul Bollinger, the speed limit on bases is 25-30mph so there is no sense in driving vehicles that can race to 100mph if they are never allowed to go above 30mph.
The plans will see an 800 vehicle order shipped in April with further deliveries taking place over the coming years – 1,600 in 2010 and 2011. Though Chrysler LLC has received an initial order, it is expected that the vehicles will come from several companies.
In all it is expected that around 10,000 vehicles may eventually be leased for use on 40 bases – each receiving the logo ‘Army Green, Army Strong’.
