The Government today opens an expression of interest process to seek information from the market about cost-effective supply, maintenance and fuelling strategies for its fleet of passenger, SUV and light commercial vehicles.

On Wednesday the Government announced it would aim to reduce South Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.

“We want to be a leading state in low or zero emission vehicles,” said Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis.

“This is an opportunity to find out more about current and future technologies to support existing and future vehicles in the State Government fleet.

“We want to know more about the innovative strategies international business have developed in reducing total greenhouse emissions in running a motor vehicle or reducing fossil fuel consumption resulting in cleaner air.”

“This low or zero emission vehicle strategy will provide additional savings to taxpayers on vehicle running costs and create further jobs in the community.

Koutsanatonis said the expressions of interest process would also seek information on job creation opportunities in South Australia that could be associated with converting the fleet.

Each year the Government buys 2700 new vehicles.

Less than two per cent of the Government’s current fleet is hybrid vehicles.

Excluding police vehicles, the Government fleet travels almost 114 million kilometres a year and consumes almost 11 million litres of fuel.

This latest announcement comes as Premier Jay Weatherill and Climate Change Minister Ian Hunter prepare to travel to Paris for next week’s United Nations climate summit.

Photo: Flickr/mariordo59