Electric cars for Army posts, but fuel guzzlers for combat.

• Author: Erwin, Sandra I.
• Position: Tactical Vehicles

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* Electricity-powered golf carts are a staple on military bases around the United States. The Army now is asking manufacturers to design a larger and more sophisticated version of the electric golf cart in order to possibly replace thousands of fuel-guzzling sedans and SUVs.

The plan is to buy up to 4,000 "neighborhood electric cars" during the next six years, said Keith E. Eastin, assistant secretary of the Army for installations and environment. He estimated that by substituting conventional automobiles with electric cars, the Army could save as much as $45 million over the six-year period just by not having to buy 12 million gallons of gasoline.

The Army's neighborhood electric car, or NEV, is by no means a technological breakthrough. The NEV has been around for more than a decade. It is defined as a four-wheeled motor vehicle with a gross weight rating of less than 3,000 pounds and a top speed of 20 to 25 miles per hour. NEVs typically have a driving range of 30 miles per charge. They must be equipped with three-point seat belts, windshields and windshield wipers, running lights, headlights, brake lights, reflectors, rear view mirrors and turn signals. Doors are optional.

The Army wants a substantially scaled-up version of the NEV. "We need doors ... We need a bigger vehicle to replace sedans or SUVs," said Kevin T. Geiss, Army special assistant for energy security. "We have certain specifications," he added. "It's not just a golf cart."

Manufactures that intend to compete for the contract have not yet provided prices for the larger NEVs. Geiss said the NEV will cost no more than what the Army currently pays to lease a conventional vehicle.

The official request for proposals will be published in January, Geiss said. The Army will buy BOO next year and plans to expand the fleet to 4,000 in subsequent years. That is a considerable share of the Army's fleet of 30,000 cars that currently are used for on-post driving only.

"Not every vehicle on post is a candidate for NEVs," said Eastin. Only a selected number of posts will receive them, mostly in mild-weather areas where it doesn't snow. The plug-in vehicles only will operate inside the post. The Army does not expect to have to build special charging stations for NEVs. All that's needed is a "longer extension cord," Eastin said. They could be charged at golf courses.

Even though oil prices have plummeted in the past year, the Army is taking a longer view and plans to...