In February 2008, the Mayor of Madrid, Alberto Ruiz Gallardon, presented officially the “Green Fleet” of Madrid City Council. the Mayor also announced the municipal commitment of gradually increase the role of clean vehicles in such a way that the whole public fleet (official local administration) would be “ecological” before 2011. Today the share is approximately 20 percent.
Nowadays, the municipal fleets count with more than 1800 vehicles powered by electricity or alternative fuels, like natural gas, biodiesel or bioethanol, most of them have started commissioning during the period 2004–2008 as urban buses and trucks in charge of waste collection.
This effort of introducing sustainability criteria in urban mobility contributes to a better environment in terms of local air quality and reduction of greenhouse emissions. One of the main protagonists of the event was the municipal bioethanol vehicles.
Today, Madrid has a “Green Bioethanol Fleet” composed by 40 Flexi-fuel cars, one official car for the Environment Councillor and five Bioethanol buses. This fleet is the result of the participation of Madrid in the European Project BEST (Bioethanol for a Sustainable Transport).
