US orders 14,000 fuel-efficient vehicles for public-sector agencies

The GSA has spent nearly $300m on fuel-efficient vehicles

The US General Services Administration (GSA), which manages resources in the public sector, has ordered 14,105 fuel-efficient vehicles for the federal fleet using $210m (£127m) of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The procurement of green goods and services by the state in the US has been highlighted by Barack Obama as a good way of stimulating the market.

The move brings the total number of fuel-efficient vehicles ordered by GSA using ARRA funds to 17,205 at a cost of $287m.

The state is committed to spending recovery dollars quickly and wisely, said commissioner James A Williams at GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service.

"Simultaneously, we are focused on acquiring vehicles that will provide long-term environmental benefits and savings by increasing the fuel efficiency of the federal fleet," he said.

So far, the GSA has bought 2,933 Chrysler vehicles for $53m, 7,924 Ford vehicles for $129m and 6,348 General Motors vehicles for $105m.

The GSA is also committed to ordering $15m-worth of advanced technology buses and electric vehicles for use in the federal fleet by September.

Each new fuel-efficient vehicle is guaranteed to have a higher miles-per-gallon rating than the model it replaces.

The GSA offers a variety of environmental products and services to its federal customers to assist them in their efforts to comply with green procurement responsibilities, said GSA acting administrator Paul F Prouty.

"This order represents just one of the multiple ways we are helping our customers meet their economic recovery and green government initiatives," he said.