Verizon Communications said it collaborated with electric car manufacturer Via...

and one in New Jersey. VIA said it designed the van based on Verizon’s fleet concepts, and expects it to run at the equivalent of 100 miles per gallon and produce “near zero” emissions. Verizon’s fleet typically travels a small number of miles per day, so the company expects the vans will operate under electric power on most days. Switching to the new electric vans would improve the Verizon fleet’s fuel economy by 300 percent and halve emissions, it said. The vehicles have enough battery life to run all-electric for 40 miles and can run additional miles through the vehicle’s “range extender” onboard electric generator, VIA said. The van can be recharged overnight on a standard 110-volt outlet. The van’s power system can also be used for emergency or job-site application, Verizon said. “We anticipate that the 15 kilowatts of clean mobile power generation provided by the vans will be of great value in emergencies like Hurricane Sandy, and in everyday use, to reduce stationary emissions and provide greater service capabilities,” said Ken Jack, Verizon vice president-fleet, in a news release. The dashboard in the new van includes a removable tablet, which Verizon said will help reduce distracted driving through voice prompts and easy-to-read route information. Verizon subsidiary Hughes Telematics also contributed technology to the vehicle that will assist with fuel and route optimization, vehicle maintenance, emergency assistance and voice and data services (http://vz.to/WI7nXE).