Apparently the United States Army wants its green-ness to extend beyond its uniforms, as Secretary of the Army Pete Green announced earlier this week that the organization plans on leasing thousands of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs).
The NEV purchase, which is part of a larger Army energy security strategy, will be the biggest ever in the United States.
4,000 EVs will be purchased by the Army within three years for security patrol, maintenance, passenger transport, and deliveries. This year, the Army will lease 794 NEVs. 1,600 will be leased in 2010, and 1,600 more will be leased in 2011.
Six NEVs are in operation at Fort Myers as of this past Monday. The Global Electric Motorcars vehicles can travel 30 miles at 25 miles per hour on an eight hour charge.
As a result of its electric vehicle commitment, the Army will reduce fossil fuel consumption by 11.5 million gallons over six years.