LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS WELL ON ITS WAY TO CONVERTING VEHICLE FLEET TO ALTERNATIVE-FUEL USE

            (Los Angeles, California – April 25, 2011)  Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) officials believe that alternative-fuel vehicles play an important role in helping California meet its future energy needs and are converting LAWA’s vehicle fleet to alternative-fuel use.

            LAWA presently has more than 648 alternative-fuel vehicles, or more than 63 percent of its fleet, powered by sources other than gasoline or diesel fuel.   These alternative fuels include liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas and compressed natural gas (CNG).

            Seventy-two percent of the fleet at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), or 557 vehicles, use alternative fuels.  Thirty-one percent, or 67 vehicles, at LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT), and 59 percent, or 24 vehicles, at Van Nuys Airport (VNY) also use alternative fuels.

            LAX’s fleet of 61 courtesy shuttle buses is powered by CNG and LNG.  These buses transport passengers from outlying parking lots and the nearby Metro Rail Green Line station to  the passenger terminals.  LAWA also operates several LNG-powered, heavy-duty trucks.

            CNG-powered vehicles, including pickup trucks, utility trucks, street sweepers, recycling collection vehicles and other conveyances, are also used daily in and around LAWA’s airports. 

            There is an on-site LNG and CNG fueling station for LAWA-owned vehicles at LAX.  There is also a public CNG and hydrogen fueling station adjacent to LAX that is run by a private concern.  Another alternative fuel retail station is scheduled for completion later this year. 

            ONT is preparing to construct a CNG fueling station on airport property.  Van Nuys presently purchases alternative fuel for its vehicles off-site.

            To encourage the use of zero-emission, electric vehicles,  free charging stations are available in Parking Structures 1 and 6 at LAX.