The Seattle Public Library has rolled out the newest edition in its fleet - a natural gas bookmobile. This exciting and innovative application for the use of natural gas, the first bookmobile in the nation to be powered entirely by compressed natural gas (CNG), was made possible in part by support and funding provided through the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition and the Department of Energy's State Energy Program funds. 

Developing the vehicle was a joint effort, encompassing a 2002 Matthews Specialty Vehicles series 5000 bookmobile using a Thomas Built Buses heavy-duty rear engine chassis and a John Deere natural gas engine. 

The bookmobile provides access to Seattle Public Library materials for citizens who cannot reach their libraries because of age, disability, or illness. Bookmobiles visit childcare centers and other special daycare institutions, retirement homes, nursing homes, and facilities and residences for developmentally disabled and physically handicapped citizens throughout the city. 

The City of Seattle has been using natural gas vehicles in their fleet since 1992. Their fleet of over 3,000 vehicles now contains more than 200 dedicated and bi-fuel natural gas vehicles in a variety of applications. And recently, City of Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and the Seattle City Council introduced a new initiative to increase the use of alternative fuels and improve the fuel efficiency of the city's fleet even further. The CNG bookmobile is just one project to fulfill the goal of the City's "Clean Green Fleet Action Plan" - a 100% clean and green fleet, using clean fuels and vehicles that are the most fuel efficient, low emission vehicles available to meet the needs of City operations. More information on the City of Seattle's alternative fuels program.