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5290 messages, Last post on Oct 25, 2006 at 8:37 AM
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Replying to: larsb (Sep 26, 2006 6:26 am)  You are talking about an automobile with Steel plating, etc. Politicians are elected to represent all of the people in their jurisdiction. They are not elected to set examples. If you think they are, please provide the applicable citation from the Constitution. 
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Replying to: terry92270 (Sep 26, 2006 10:38 am) If the Governator is going to be such a Ra-Ra anti-Global-Warming sort guy, which is fine with me, then he needs to start at the state fleet and start buying more efficient vehicles, including hybrid SUVs.
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Replying to: larsb (Sep 26, 2006 11:28 am) The Governator recently sold his Hummers, which is his personal statement. Only an idiot would over-ride his security chief's vehicle selection. Maybe we should load up the Prius with armor plate and bulletproof glass? Then it would work - but that would use up the vehicle carrying load, and the car would just sit there instead of being able to actually do anything. I'm just surprised that the Excursions weren't ordered with diesel engines, which would have given about 40% better MPG. 
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Replying to: larsb (Sep 26, 2006 11:28 am)  This isn't a political forum, so we shouldn't be posting political comments. If people actually read the Constitution, they would find the United States isn't a Democracy, and it was never intended to be one. We are a Republic, which means we elect officials to exercise their own judgment on issues, not ours. If we don't like their judgments, we don't re-elect them.
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Replying to: stevedebi (Sep 26, 2006 12:15 pm) Surprised, Why? Diesel is "fossil fuel NON GRATA" in California, dontcha know? As far as 'armor plated SUVs' go, well, a Highlander Hybrid can be armourized. So that's not a good argument for allowing government waste. And even, let's say, if certain officials, by the nature of security, are REQUIRED to drive SUVs - there are WAYS to get them up to 25 and 35 MPG. One group of scientists took a Ford Exploder up to almost 40 MPG with about $3400 in mods. Even if there are good reasons for keeping a few SUV HOGS in the fleet, there is no good reason to buy non-hybrid cars for the part of the fleet which can be a CAR. |
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Replying to: larsb (Sep 26, 2006 1:32 pm) Sure there is; pure economics would be one reason. Now, before you jump down my throat, I'm NOT SUGGESTING that current purchase decisions by the government ARE made on a pure economics basis. That's OBVIOUSLY not the case. I'm just saying that, IF you wanted a valid reason to not buy a hybrid (assuming a hybrid met the remaining specifications for that job), then purchase/operating/maintenance cost might reveal a 'better' choice.
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Replying to: rorr (Sep 26, 2006 1:41 pm) Remember - these municipalities and private companies are not buying $28K Priuses - they are buying close to the base model. It takes longer to recoup the added hybrid costs over, say the Caprice it replaced, but they ARE going to recoup the added cost. Just ask 'em....  And pollute far less in the meantime, and repair cars far less in the meantime also.
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Replying to: larsb (Sep 26, 2006 1:47 pm) Believe it or not, but the role of a LOT of vehicles purchased by various government agencies could be filled by something like a Toyota Yaris or even a lowly Kia Rio. And from a pure ECONOMICS standpoint, it becomes more difficult to recommend a Prius (even given it's fuel savings) over something like a 4-dr Yaris. |
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Replying to: larsb (Sep 26, 2006 1:32 pm) ISSUED JANUARY 31, 2006: "The Department of General Services, State of California, (DGS) is issuing this Vehicle Purchase and Lease Policy as part of the State’s efforts to meet ambient air quality standards, reduce the State fleet’s petroleum use and impact on the environment, and control statewide fleet costs. This policy applies to the purchase and lease of light-duty (under 8,500 pounds gross-vehicle-weight rating) alternative fuel, gasoline, hybrid-electric, sport utility, and four-wheel drive vehicles. As required by the Federal Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992, 75 percent of the State’s light-duty vehicle purchases must be Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs). A listing of all AFVs on the State’s vehicle master contract can be viewed at: http://www.pd.dgs.ca.gov/contracts/vehicles.htm To the maximum extent practicable, each State office, agency, and department that has bi-fuel natural gas and bi-fuel propane vehicles in its fleet shall use the respective alternative fuel in those vehicles. After having met the Federal EPAct mandate, all gasoline-powered light-duty sedans purchased or leased by State offices, agencies, and departments must be at a minimum certified to the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) LEV II Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standards. Light-duty pickups, vans, and sport utility vehicles must be at a minimum certified to the CARB’s LEV l ULEV standards or equivalent. Offices, agencies, and departments shall, when available, maximize the purchase or lease of available vehicles that meet or exceed California’s LEV ll Super-Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) passenger vehicle standards for exhaust emissions and maximize the purchase or lease of hybrid vehicles that are substantially more fuel efficient. To view a listing of vehicles meeting these requirements, please refer to: http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/ccvl/ccvl.htm The Vehicle Purchase and Lease Policy does not apply to authorized emergency or law enforcement vehicles that are equipped with emergency lighting per California Vehicle Code, Section 25252. The DGS, Office of Fleet Administration (OFA) will review any exception or exemption request to this Policy and assist offices, agencies, and departments with vehicle purchases and leases. All vehicle acquisition requests must be submitted on an OFA 160, Vehicle Acquisition Request Form. For a copy of the OFA 160 Form, please refer to: http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/ofa/forms/ofa160.pdf See also THIS LINK for information about the Court validating the South Coast Air Management Agency's very strict fleet rules. Seems as though our neighbors in California, being pushed by the Governator, are indeed leading the nation in the purchase and use of AFV's. 
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| So even the most 3rd environmentally alert fleet can be improved....Great news !!! | |
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