FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE: December 13, 2002
State
DEP Adds 122nd Clean Air Vehicle to Fleet
-- Electric-run vehicle donated to John
U. Lloyd Beach State Park
at Ride ‘n’ Drive event --
DANIA - The Florida
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) added another
non-petroleum powered vehicle to its existing fleet at a
rally for alternative fuel vehicles today. On the final
day of the Electric Transportation Industry Conference,
sponsored by the Electric Vehicle Association of the
Americas, Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), LLC and
DaimlerChrysler donated a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle to
John U. Lloyd Beach State Park.
“This beachfront park
preserves some of Florida’s vanishing natural resources,”
said DEP Secretary David B. Struhs, who accepted the
vehicle on behalf of the park. “This generous donation
from Global Electric Motorcars and DaimlerChrysler helps
demonstrate to the park’s 600,000 annual visitors the
importance of zero emission vehicles in protecting Florida’s
air resources.”
The state park, a 253-acre
barrier island, is a primary nesting site for sea turtles.
In addition to promoting alternative fuel sources, the
size and versatility of the GEM vehicle, commonly referred
to as a “low speed vehicle”
will enable park staff to
safely patrol nesting sites and navigate through park
areas. As part of the Electric Transportation Industry
Conference, John U. Lloyd Beach State Park hosted a Ride
‘N’ Drive event featuring seven battery, hybrid and
fuel cell vehicles - the Honda Civic, Nissan Hypermini,
Toyota Prius, Ford Focus, DaimlerChrysler GEM, Feel Good
Cars ZENN, and Dynasty Motor Cars IT.
“The government of
Florida has made great advances incorporating different
aspects of electric transportation into local communities,”
said GEM’s Rick Kasper. “The donation of a GEM vehicle
to Florida’s award-winning state park system is a sign
of our appreciation for the commitment of Florida’s
Department of Environmental Protection in using electric
drive technology in a variety of applications.”
The burning of
petroleum-based fuels like gasoline is the primary cause
of air pollution from mobile sources. Adding to its fleet
of 102 alternate fueled vehicles, DEP purchased 19 hybrid
vehicles earlier this year to replace fuel driven models.
As an added incentive to switch to alternative fuel
vehicles, Struhs set aside all reserved parking spaces at
DEP’s Tallahassee headquarters for alternative fuel or
carpool vehicles.
-30-
Press Office
