Eco-cruisin': MCAS gets hybrids

Yuma's Southwest Region Fleet Transportation, which manages Marine Corps Air Station Yuma's nontactical government vehicles, recently acquired nine hybrids as part of a Corpswide plan to save money on fuel expenditures as well as meet the requirements for governmental fuel and battery standards.

The acquisition of the vehicles is in compliance with Executive Order 13514, the Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance, which aims to reduce the federal government's carbon footprint and energy usage by 3 percent a year.

The 2011 Ford Fusion hybrids are both battery- and gas-powered. Anytime the vehicle runs below 47 mph, it uses electricity, with a seamless switch to gas at faster speeds.

The Fusion's battery is self-replenishing, meaning every time the driver operates the brakes, the engine switches its energy source from gasoline to battery. Simultaneously, the car stores the heat generated by the engine and uses it to recharge the battery, also known as regenerative braking.

The hybrids are replacing some of SWRFT's older vehicles, said Joe Valenzuela, station transportation assistant. The transition has been in the works for five years now, and will help the base by not only saving money on fuel, but cutting down on emissions as well.

The vehicles will also benefit Marines with engagements at other installations. A hybrid with a full tank of gas can travel approximately 600 miles before needing to refuel.

The hybrids also feature vehicle sensors, event data recorders meant to capture information during an accident and require oil changes every 10,000 miles.

Yuma's SWRFT is slated to get two more of the vehicles before the end of fiscal year 2010.

Lance Cpl. Sean Dennison writes for Desert Warrior, the newspaper for Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.