Section 1400.4540  Vehicles

a)         Specification

Contracts for the purchase or lease of new passenger automobiles, other than station wagons, vans and four-wheel drive vehicles, shall specify the procurement of a model that, according to the most current mileage study published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, can achieve at least the minimum average fuel economy in miles per gallon imposed upon manufacturers of vehicles under Title V of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act (15 U.S.C. 2001 46).  [35 ILCS 500/45-40(a)]  Further, all gasoline-powered vehicles purchased from State funds must be flexible fuel vehicles or fuel efficient hybrid vehicles.  Any vehicle purchased from State funds that is fueled by diesel fuel shall be certified by the manufacturer to run on 5% biodiesel (B5) fuel. [30 ILCS 500/25-75]

1)         Flexible fuel vehicles are automobiles or light trucks that operate on either gasoline or E-85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) fuel.

2)         Fuel efficient hybrid vehicles are automobiles or light trucks that use a gasoline or diesel engine and an electric motor to power and gain a minimum of 20% increase in combined USEPA city/highway fuel economy over an equivalent or most-similar conventionally-powered model.

b)         North American-made Vehicles. All vehicles purchased by the Treasurer's office shall have a Vehicle Identification Number that begins with the number one, the number 2, the number 4, or the number 5.

c)         In awarding contracts requiring the procurement of vehicles, preference may be given to an otherwise qualified bidder or offeror who will fulfill the contract through the use of vehicles powered by ethanol produced from Illinois corn or biodiesel fuels produced from Illinois soybeans. [30 ILCS 500/45-60]

d)         Exemptions

The Chief Procurement Officer may determine that certain vehicle procurements are exempt from this Section based on intended use or other reasonable considerations such as health and safety of Illinois citizens.  [30 ILCS 500/25-75(c)]  Nothing in this Section shall require the Treasurer's office to stop using any vehicle that exists in the State fleet of motor vehicles.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 2924, effective February 7, 2024)