The latest green technologies in cars and trucks were on display at the Lehman College.
The Center for Sustainable Energy held its fifth annual Alternative Vehicle Conference that showcased solar powered, electricity fueled and natural gas technologies for small cars and S.U.V.s, as well as larger buses and trucks. The conference was held at Lehman College on Friday, October 30.
Tria Case, director of the Center for Sustainable Energy at Bronx Community College and C.U.N.Y.’s director of sustainability, said that the annual expo entitled “The Road to Energy Independence” was the biggest and best yet.
“Many of these alternative vehicles are already being used in New York City and are representative of what you see on the street every day,” Case said. “In order to make a smooth transition to clean energy, consumers need reliable vehicles, easy refueling, and trained mechanics. The transportation industry is undergoing an historic transformation and the Center for Sustainable Energy […] is working with a multitude of partners to help provide that critical [new] infrastructure.”
Con Edison vice-president of planning and engineering John Mucci spoke about how Con Edison was working to develop a new electricity delivery platform for fleets of electric trucks. In addition, Con Edison is greening its own fleet.
“Con Edison is pleased to join this conference at a time when environmental and economic sustainability is so important to us all,” Mucci stated. “Global warming and energy independence have become critical issues, and our company has been making significant investments to ‘green’ our fleet. Today, our employees do their field work driving 140 hybrid vehicles, about 25 compressed-gas-fueled cars, and 1,700 diesel trucks running on B-20 bio-diesel fuel.
Congressman Jose Serrano, who provides funding for the Center for Sustainable Energy, commented on the long list of alternative vehicles on display at the conference. These included Compressed Natural Gas delivery trucks, vans, and ambulances, as well as cars from General Motors, Ford, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and Hyundai that run on alternative energy –from solar energy to hybrids.
“The theme for this year’s conference, ‘The Road To Energy Independence: Implementing the Change’ is particularly apt, as the vehicles on display no longer exist only in laboratories and workshops,” Serrano stated. “Successful, road-tested vehicle technologies are on the road today and, I believe, will no longer be considered the alternative for much longer.”
