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On the other side of Denver in Fort Collins, Colo., there is a mandate to “buy…vehicles that use alternative fuels, including electric, compressed natural gas (when feasible) and propane cars.” However, Fort Collins has found that balancing environmental concerns and departmental needs requires an awareness of the many influencing variables that contribute to the fleet's ultimate composition and operational experience. These include:

• Interaction with directing entities

  Discussions with directing bodies come in many forms and are best viewed as an opportunity to educate decision-makers and their constituents.

• Communication with other organizations

  Whether sustainability committees or clean air groups, any fleet operation has to deal with groups pursuing environmental agendas at odds with functional or fiscal reality. The best way to get cooperation instead of confrontation is to become a part of the group.

• Investigation and evaluation of alternatives

  Information on the latest save-the-world fuel-treatment gadget can be relevant, interesting and can challenge one's comfortable, business-as-usual approach to procurement. But the economics must be of benefit, which means one must understand how long it will take to see a payback of the additional cost.

• Presentation of solutions to end-users

  It's a job that requires persuasion. In Fort Collins, part of the job is to pull together information to help the city's Equipment Review Board process equipment requests. Is the old equipment really ready for replacement? Does the department need the type vehicle they ask for? Has the requesting department remained focused on the driving operational factors that guide the purchasing decision? Persuasion is key: There is no magic way to make a fleet more fuel-efficient and less of an environmental burden.