McGuire Participates in Electric Vehicle Project

JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., is slated to receive more than 50 plug-in electric vehicles in 2014 as part of the Defense Department’s Vehicle-to-Grid Project, according to a base release. McGuire, joins JB Andrews, Md., and Los Angeles AFB, Calif., as the three Air Force installations—and six US military bases overall—participating in the one-year trial to determine whether electric sedans, trucks, and other non-tactical vehicles are cost effective and can return power to the electrical grid during times when no one is driving them, states the Nov. 1 release. “Electric cars cost more than traditional vehicles so we have to see the savings and benefits in order to justify their use,” said CMSgt. David Schuman, vehicle fleet manager with McGuire’s 87th Logistics Readiness Squadron. The Air Force is leading V2G, which envisions Los Angeles becoming the first federal installation to replace all of its ground vehicles with electric versions, according to an earlier Pentagon release. Andrews is scheduled to receive some 35 PEVs in 2014. (McGuire report by A1C Ryan Throneberry) (Also includes Andrews report by Michael P. Kleiman) (See also It’s Electrifying.)