Case Study: Transportation Initiative Incorporates
 Alternative  Fuels  and  Electric Vehicles
The Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center
(Departments of Veterans Affairs and Navy) in North Chicago,
Illinois, reduced greenhouse gases by incorporating electric vehicles
and alternative fuels into fleet operations. Lovell FHCC increased its
electric fleet by 200 percent in one year. In addition, it increased
the use of E85 ethanol from 54 to 60 percent and incorporated
biodiesel, which now accounts for 10 percent of the total fuel used.

Lovell FHCC's interdisciplinary Green Environmental Management
Systems Committee used the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's Federal Green Challenge as the impetus to reduce the
greenhouse gas emissions produced by its fleet. This 126-vehicle
fleet includes buses, trucks and cars. At the beginning of the
project, Lovell FHCC's fleet had one electric vehicle. Forty-five
percent of the fleet's fuel consumption came from traditional fuels
such as gasoline and diesel.
Three electric vehicles used by Lovell FHCC.
 Sustainable Materials Management
 Federal Green  Challenge
Key Topics

 • Electric vehicles.

 • Alternative fuel.

Results

 • 200 percent increase in
   electric vehicles.

 • Two electric vehicles averted
   the use of approx. 900 gallons
   of gasoline.

 • 71 percent of transportation
   fuels used are alternative fuels.
Facility at a Glance

 •  120-acre campus with
    numerous buildings including a
    full hospital, residences and
    power plant.

 •  Serves sailors at Naval Station
    Great Lakes and veterans from
    northern Illinois and southern
    Wisconsin.

 •  Participant since 2011 in the
    FGC categories of energy,
    transportation and waste.

 •  Recipient of EPA National FGC
    Award: Transportation.

 •  Recipient of EPA Region 5 FGC
    Award: Overall Achievement
    and Innovation.
       CHANGING HOW WE THINK ABOUT OUR RESOURCES FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
        United States
        EnvlronrnQntsI Protection
        Agency
        www.epa.gov/smm

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 Alternative  Fuel and Electric  Vehicles
After switching its fuel mix to include the use of
biodiesel and a larger amount of E85 ethanol,
Lovell FHCC was able to decrease its use of regular
gasoline and diesel fuel consumption to 29 percent
of the total fuel used. The committee collected fuel
consumption data using its on-site fueling station
sources.

In addition, Lovell FHCC purchased two new all-
electric trucks, further decreasing the center's
greenhouse gas emissions. Committee members
knew the best way to gain management support for
electric vehicles was to justify the project's cost-
effectiveness overtime. Using a full-sized pickup
truck with an average 7- to 8-year lifespan as a
baseline and examining the direct  (Scope 1) carbon
dioxide emissions from the operation of the vehicle,
they provided clear evidence that purchasing mini-
electric pickups would not only reduce Lovell
FHCC's greenhouse gas emissions, but also save
money in the long term with decreased
maintenance and fuel costs. It's estimated that in
one year the use of these two electric trucks
avoided the use of nearly 900 gallons of gasoline
and eight metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent
from that fuel.

The biggest challenge was finding a suitable electric
vehicle to replace Lovell FHCC's utilitarian pickup
trucks. Most commercially available electric
vehicles were too small and not rugged enough to
handle the health care center's needs. Funding the
purchase of new electric vehicles was also a
challenge as their high initial cost meant that Lovell
FHCC needed to find a reliable vehicle with a long
lifespan to  achieve a pay-back. Fortunately with
diligent research, committee members were able to
find an all-electric vehicle similar to a pickup truck
to meet the rigors of Lovell FHCC's day-to-day
operations while providing many years of service.
  About the Federal Green Challenge

  The Federal Green Challenge, part of EPA's Sustainable Materials
  Management Program, is designed to challenge federal agencies
  throughout the country to lead by example in reducing the federal
  government's environmental impact. It helps agencies meet obligations
  under Executive Orders 13514 and 13423.
  In 2012, nearly 300 federal agencies, representing more than 500,000
  employees participated in the Federal Green Challenge. Their combined
  efforts resulted in an estimated cost savings of more than $31 million to
  U.S. taxpayers.
Region 5, Land and Chemicals Division, Materials Management Branch
EPA-905-F-14-002
February 2014
                 For More
                 Information

                 Lovell FHCC contact:

                 Joe Bozeman
                 224-610-4173
                 joe.bozeman@va.gov
                                                                 Federal Green Challenge:
                                                                 http://epa.gov/fgc

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