The US Navy has taken delivery of two Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid electric vehicles from the General Services Administration (GSA).

The vehicles were delivered to the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) as part of the US Department of Defense (DoD) and GSA plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) pilot programme.

The vehicles are powered by E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, and are designed to reduce air pollution and petroleum dependence.

Deputy assistant to the Secretary of the Navy for Energy Tom Hicks said: "This is a positive step in the direction to meet Secretary of the Navy’s (SECNAV’s) energy goals and to reduce petroleum use in commercial vehicles by 50% by 2015."

Currently, NAVFAC operates a fleet of 2,143 vehicles.