VANCOUVER, B.C. –The purchase of medium-duty hybrid trucks and the use of biodiesel are two elements that helped the municipalities of Vancouver and Delta earn the first ever Gold Ratings from E3 Fleet.

The E3 Fleet program is a national program orchestrated by the Fraser Basin Council, which recognizes excellence in fleet management and environmental performance. Under the program, public and private sector fleets can seek formal ratings based on criteria such as: fleet action plan; idle reduction practices; vehicle purchasing; fuel data management; fleet operations and maintenance; trip and route planning; and fuel efficiency.

Vancouver earned its Gold rating by: purchasing medium-duty hybrid-electric trucks, employing the right vehicles for each fleet function, assessing the full lifecycle costs of each vehicle purchased, testing alternative fuels, adopting new technologies and taking advantage of nitrogen tire inflation and engine control module reprogramming, according to the city.

Delta, meanwhile, improved its fuel efficiency by 6% for every kilometre travelled, reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 1% between 2007 and 2008, E3 Fleet officials said. Delta employed a fuel-efficient fleet purchasing strategy (including replacing 16 conventional vehicles with hybrids), launched an anti-idling campaign, right-sized its vehicles and on larger vehicles installed GPS systems and engine shut-off devices to discourage idling. Delta also uses biodiesel in all its diesel engines. More info on the E3 Fleet program is available at www.e3fleet.com.