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Fort Benning driving into future with electric vehicles

By Alexander GagoJanuary 25, 2023

Fort Benning driving into the future with electric vehicles
U.S. Army Col. Colin P. Mahle, garrison commander of Fort Benning, takes the vehicle key delivery from Llewellyn Barrett, deputy director, Fort Benning Logistics Readiness Center, of a 2023 Ford F-150 all-wheel drive light-duty electric vehicle. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Alexander Gago) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BENNING, Ga. - U.S. Army Garrison Fort Benning received a new 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning electric nontactical vehicle (NTV) January 13 at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Presidential Executive Order 14057, on “Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability,” requires federal agencies to transition their nontactical vehicles to 100 percent zero-emission vehicle fleet acquisitions by 2035, including 100 percent zero-emission light-duty vehicle acquisition by 2027.  

Fort Benning is transitioning its nontactical petroleum-based vehicles to electric vehicles (EV) through attrition and regular end-of-life replacement cycles. The types of NTVs include commercially available vehicles such as sedans, station wagons, utility vehicles, trucks, vans, and buses.

Fort Benning driving into the future with electric vehicles
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning all-wheel-drive electric vehicle. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Alexander Gago) VIEW ORIGINAL

"This Ford Lightning truck light-duty electric vehicle at Fort Benning [has a] … 230-mile range on the standard battery that can reach 80 percent charge in under 45 minutes using a fast charge," said Llewellyn Barrett, deputy director of Fort Benning Logistics Readiness Center.

Col. Colin P. Mahle, Fort Benning garrison commander, received delivery of a new 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning all-wheel drive EV, marking a milestone in Fort Benning's move to modern EV technology.

"This is just one of our new electric vehicles. We will have 170 of these on the road in the coming year," said Mahle. "This expands operational capability and installation energy resilience; if you happen to see one of them around, know Fort Benning is driving the future."