USPS Receives WestStart-CALSTART ``Blue Sky Kudos'' for Largest-Ever EV Purchase
11 January 2000
USPS Receives WestStart-CALSTART ``Blue Sky Kudos'' for Largest-Ever EV Purchase
PASADENA, Calif.--Jan. 10, 2000--for Its Environmental Leadership;
Latest Annual Awards to Be Announced Later This Month
WestStart-CALSTART has recognized the United States Postal Service (USPS) with "Blue Sky Kudos" for the government agency's purchase of 500 electric delivery vehicles, the single largest electric-vehicle contract in U.S. history.
Announced in late December, the contract was awarded to Ford for the purchase of 500 vehicles based on the Ford Ranger EV chassis and carries the option of ordering up to 6,000 vehicles. Delivery of the 500 vehicles will begin in fall 2000 and continue over a period of one year.
"Blue Sky Kudos," inaugurated by WestStart-CALSTART in late 1999, periodically recognize significant actions taken by companies, organizations or individuals in support of the advanced-transportation industry and environment.
Ford Motor Co. was recognized with "Blue Sky Kudos" in December for its decision to withdraw from the Global Climate Coalition, a lobbying group that leads opposition to the Kyoto climate treaty. "Blue Sky Kudos" are regularly posted on the WestStart-CALSTART Web site (www.calstart.org).
The USPS is also a past winner of WestStart-CALSTART's major annual recognition -- the Blue Sky Award -- for its environmental leadership in converting more than 7,500 of its vehicles to alternative fuels and for meeting its clean-fuel vehicle obligations under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct).
Given annually, the Blue Sky Award is an international designation given to companies, organizations or individuals that make outstanding marketplace contributions to advanced, sustainable transportation that cleans the air, improves energy efficiency and helps reduce greenhouse emissions.
Announcement of this year's annual winners will take place later this month, and presentation of the Blue Sky Award 2000 will come at a luncheon ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2000, at WestStart-CALSTART headquarters in Pasadena.
Dr. Alan Lloyd, chairman of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), will be the guest speaker at the event and will present the award to the winners. Contact WestStart-CALSTART for more details or to attend.
WestStart-CALSTART is an advanced-transportation technologies organization that focuses on developing and implementing new, clean technologies and solutions in transportation.
Working with private partners worldwide, WestStart-CALSTART provides technology development and demonstration, industry analysis, marketing, business development and fleet implementation services. Its expertise includes electric vehicles, natural-gas vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, mobility services, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and fuel-cell technologies.