FRAMINGHAM, MA - AltWheels Fleet Day, the largest display of alternative fleet vehicles on the East coast, will be held at Staples World Headquarters in Framingham, MA, on October 5. This year's event will be bigger, better and feature more energy efficient vehicle technology than ever before.

This year's lineup already includes more than 35 vehicles ranging from hybrid cars, hybrid trucks and buses, plug-ins, hydrogen/fuel-cell, bio-fuels (ethanol, biodiesel), propane, CNG and pure electrics as well as idle reduction and other energy saving technologies. Most of these vehicles will be available for test drives. (See the growing list of vehicles of all sizes and types at: http://www.altwheels.org/fleetday09.html

"We're seeing greater interest from participants than ever before," said Alison Sander, founder of AltWheels. "Corporate and municipal fleet managers from across the country are attending this year to see the broadest lineup of alternative vehicle technologies and experts we've ever had.  The opportunities for saving fuel and money are increasing almost daily, and we've got the best options and the industry leaders showing how to make it happen."

Registration is already half-full with only 350 spots available. Due to security walk-ins are not allowed, so participants need to register before we sell out at: http://www.altwheels.org/fleetday09.html  "We're less than a month away and already close to sold out!" said Sander.

Among the vehicles on display will be:

• MIT EV's, Porsche 914 converted into a battery electric vehicle (BEV) using lithium-ion batters. Vehicle has a range of approximately 100 miles and recently competed in GreenFest's 100 mpg challenge.

• ElDorado's CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) E-Z Rider II 35' long low-floor transit bus

• Penske-Hybrid diesel/electric 4x2 24' Straight Box Truck

• Mercedes-Benz - 2010 S400 Luxury Hybrid, the first production vehicle to utilize Lithium-Ion battery technology. 

• General Motors' Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell all-electric vehicle running on GM's fourth generation hydrogen fuel cell system.

• Ford Plug-In Escape PHEV Hybrid which can go approximately 30 miles on a single charge without using any gas.

• Tri State Truck Center's Freightliner Class 7 diesel/electric truck

• Eaton-Class 6 Hybrid Utility Bucket Truck that offers a 60% efficiency improvement.

And more than 30 others including major concept and commercially available vehicles.

Speakers will include more than 40 nationally renowned leaders on fleet technologies, industry experts and representatives from some of the biggest names in the field.

Fleet managers, municipal and corporate, from 17 states (as far away as California), representing 27 cities and towns, 57 companies as well as more than 10 state and federal agencies are registered to attend. 

Five years ago, when AltWheels Fleet Day was first held, many attendees were skeptical that viable alternatives might exist. With a dramatic rise in the cost of fuel, tightened budgets and a greater focus on environmental responsibility, almost one-third of attendees say they have already incorporated some alternative energy efficiency measures into their fleet. Fleet Day will be highlighting many of the best practices already in use and display many new alternatives available.

Sponsoring the event are some of the biggest names in the business, locally and nationally, including:

• Gold Sponsor:  Staples

• Silver Sponsors:  Dennis K. Burke, Ford Motor Co., General Motors, Massport; Toyota

• Bronze Sponsors:  AVSG, Eaton, Mass Clean Cities, Mercedes Benz, NAFA-New England, National Grid, Paul Revere Transportation, Penske Truck Leasing, PlanetTran, Propane Education & Research Council, Smith Electric Vehicles

• Trail Blazer Sponsors:  American Honda, City of Boston Clean Diesel Program, Converdant Vehicles, Minuteman Trucks, Peterbilt, SAE - New England, The Foresight Project, Tri State Truck Center

There are 28 co-hosts of AltWheels this year including leading agencies working for sustainable transportation coming together from more than 9 States and 28 organizations including:

NAFA - New England; American Public Works Assoc. NE; Capital Clean Cities of Connecticut; Clean Communities of Central NY; Clean Communities of Western NY; EPA SmartWay; Energy Alternatives of Southwest CT; Environmental Defense Fund; Granite State Clean Cities; Greater Long Island Clean Cities; Greater New Haven Clean Cities (CT); Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities; Maine Clean Communities; Maine Dept. of Transportation; Mass. Clean Cities Coalition; Mass. Climate Action Network; Mass. Exec. Office of Transportation; MassHighway; Mass. Municipal Association; Massport; New Jersey Clean Cities; NYC Lower Hudson Valley Clean Communities; Norwich Clean Cities (CT); Ocean State Clean Cities; SAE - New England; Vermont Clean Cities; WTS.

"We are proud of the broad collection of Fortune 500 companies, automakers and fleet managers that come together each year to make AltWheels Fleet Day possible," said Sander. "We bring together leading edge thinkers from across the nation, fleet managers who share their successes to help each other develop more sustainable transportation solutions. Each year we are amazed at the networks created and the openness to help each other get to a more sustainable and viable solution."