Fleet Operations is dramatically and rapidly expanding the use of alternatively-fueled vehicles in the Detroit Edison and MichCon fleet.

Hybrids

As we retire older vehicles used by Detroit Edison and MichCon supervisors, we are replacing many of them with Ford Escapes Hybrids. These vehicles extend our commitment to minimizing our impact on the environment by lessening our reliance on gasoline and reducing CO2 emissions.

Detroit Edison's field operations recently began using a hybrid lift bucket truck, which can operate for up to four hours without running the diesel engine. Using only the electric lift will result in significant reduction of noise and emissions in residential neighborhoods.

Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs)

DTE Energy operates a large fleet of service vehicles across the state. In fact, we have 200 natural gas powered service vans and pickups on the road today. These vehicles – which typically get low fuel-economy and really rack up the miles – gain the most from the switch to natural gas. Natural Gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel; natural gas vehicles reduce greenhouse gas emissions between 20% – 29%.

We’ve reduced fuel costs by over $250,000 in the last 12 months alone. As the prices of goods and services continue to rise, savings like that go a long way to helping us hold costs in line for our customers.

We’re also supporting the infrastructure development that’s so important to these fleets.  We operate 12 public NGV fueling stations and are adding more stations over the next several years. We’re also lending our expertise to support others as they open their own public or private fueling stations.