2011 Chevrolet Volt
The White House wants to walk green while it talks green, which is why the government's purchasing department is now placing an order for 100 electric cars to be distributed through agencies later in the year.
The New York Times reports the Obama administration's executive order from October 2009 mandates that federally owned and operated vehicles do their part to to cut carbon emissions, and EVs--as well as hybrid cars--are in the plan.
The General Services Administration has already begun integrating the hybrid cars into its fleets, the Times reports. More than 5,600 of the Feds' least green cars are being replaced with hybrid vehicles being delivered now.
The electric cars will take more time to procure, and to implement. Aside from the issues of recharging and quick-charge availability, there's the issue of nationality. The government is keen on keeping EV purchases as U.S.-centric as possible, which means vehicles like the 2011 Chevrolet Volt seem like a good choice--even though the batteries are made, for now, in South Korea.
The Times doesn't comment on whether the 2011 Nissan Leaf will be eligible. The initial batch of Leaf sedans will be sourced from Japan, but by 2013, Nissan expects to begin production in Tennessee.
The GSA has a fleet of more than 650,000 vehicles, with more than a third belonging to the post office. The EVs to be purchased will be chosen before the end of the year.
