National Parks Initiative

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) partners with the National Park Service (NPS) through the Clean Cities National Parks Initiative. The initiative supports transportation projects that educate park visitors on the benefits of shifting to affordable, domestic alternative fuels, advanced vehicles, and fuel-saving technologies and strategies. Since 2010, VTO and Clean Cities and Communities coalitions have partnered with NPS on 35 projects to put alternative fuel and fuel-efficient vehicles on the road, reduce vehicle idling, and improve vehicle efficiency. These actions support and coincide with NPS's efforts to reduce vehicle congestion, air pollution, and resource degradation, and to preserve the long-term quality of the parks.


Cape Cod National Seashore

The historic Nauset Lighthouse in Eastham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Courtesy of NPS


In 2015, Cape Cod National Seashore, with support from Massachusetts Clean Cities, replaced three conventional vehicles with plug-in electric vehicles and installed electric vehicle charging stations for the park's fleet use. This project helped the park further their fleet's shift to domestic fuels and advanced vehicle technologies.

See how the Clean Cities National Parks Initiative supports parks transportation projects.

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