LAS VEGAS – Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute (AFVi) recognized outstanding leadership in the alternative fuels and vehicles industry as part of the opening day of the 14th Alternative Fuels & Vehicles Conference + Expo 2008. The awards honor excellence in individuals and/or organizations that have advanced the use of alternative fuels, vehicles or advanced technologies resulting in clean alternatives to petroleum. The AFVi 2008 award winners included:

Green Fleet Award 2008 Robert Hall, director of Vehicle Engineering for United Parcel Service (UPS), received the award for his influence and vision in building and operating the largest private alternative-fuel fleet in the transportation industry. Hall has been with the company for 32 years, and for the past 23 years, has led the company’s alternative-fuel projects and technology development.

UPS has a total of 1,629 trucks that run on compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas and propane, as well as electric and hybrid electric vehicles. UPS is also working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on developing a hydraulic hybrid delivery vehicle.

Oxygen Award 2008 Matthew Payne came up with a great idea in 2002 that freight shippers, carriers, and logistics companies would voluntarily sign up to reduce emissions through their freight operations. Today, the idea has become a highly successful program, with more than 600 partners representing notable transport powerhouses like Wal-Mart, Swift Transportation, and Whole Foods Market.

Payne was recognized for his vision behind the SmartWay Transport Partnership, a program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As a 17-year employee of the EPA, Payne has pioneered work in alternative fuels and diesel retrofit technology. He is working on a SmartWay program redesign to cover multimodal emissions from the entire transportation supply chain.