NAVFAC Washington Adds First Electric Vehicle to Fleet

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By James Johnson, NAVFAC Washington Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Washington Base Support Vehicles and Equipment (BSVE) office took delivery of its first Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, a Chevrolet Volt, at the Washington Navy Yard on Oct. 20.

The Volt is the first of four to be leased to NAVFAC Washington BSVE as part of a General Services Administration (GSA) pilot program. The remaining three will arrive early 2012.

"The addition of the Chevy Volt demonstrates our commitment to energy reduction goals set by the Secretary of the Navy," said Erin Bartley, product line coordinator at NAVFAC Washington BSVE. "This vehicle, along with the three to come later, will help us reduce our gasoline consumption and greenhouse gas emissions."

In total, the GSA will deliver 11 electric vehicles to the U.S. Navy, nine Chevy Volts and two Nissan Leafs. NAVFAC Southwest is scheduled to receive five Volts and two Leafs in early 2012. NAVFAC Washington and Commander, Navy Installation Command (CNIC) have coordinated to install 220-volt charging stations at the Washington Navy Yard and Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Md. These stations will provide the Volt a full charge in four hours.

NAVFAC Washington BSVE has a fleet of 2,143 vehicles. These drove for 635,350 miles (enough to drive from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles and back 119 times) during Fiscal Year 2010. The fleet services many agencies, including CNIC, Naval Sea Systems Command and Naval Air Systems Command among others.