The Yukon government has added another 26 vehicles of higher fuel efficiency to its standard fleet of 443 government cars, trucks and vans.

Premier Dennis Fentie, who also serves as Environment minister, arrived at a press conference Tuesday afternoon in a new Smart car.

It had been purchased by his department to further test the effectiveness of that technology in the North. It's the only one of its kind in the fleet.

It was pointed out that the Smart car travels about 21.7 kilometres per litre (61 miles per gallon) in town and 26.3 kms per litre (74 mpg) on the highway.

'We have replaced 31 gas guzzlers,' Fentie said matter-of-factly of government program and the purchase of the 26 four-cylinder vehicles this year and five last year.

'We have reduced gas consumption.'

The switch to higher efficiency amounts to replacing the older six-cylinder sedans and SUVs with four-cylinder vehicles outfitted with the new high-efficiency technology.

The premier said it's estimated each of the 31 vehicles carrying the higher efficiency rating will save the government about $500 a year.

And with reduced fuel consumption comes a reduction in the amount of CO2 emissions, Fentie pointed out.

He acknowledged his government has not provided specific instructions mandating fleet managers to replace higher-consumption vehicles

In some cases, the premier explained, it's not practical to replace a larger pickup truck with a smaller fuel-efficient version simply because of the work applications for each vehicle.

He pointed out he drove to Whitehorse from his hometown of Watson Lake on Monday in heavy snow, suggesting he wasn't sure if the Smart car could handle the conditions like his eight-cylinder, half-ton pickup truck.

Where possible, the government will do what it can to live up to its campaign promise of combating climate change, Fentie said.

'Overall, as a government, we are going to look at every possible option.'

Asked this morning what kind of truck he drives, the premier said it's a Dodge Ram 1500. But he's quick to point out when he bought the vehicle, he spent the extra money for the advanced fuel efficiency package which reduces highway fuel consumption by 20 per cent.

'Which means I reduce emissions by 20 per cent,' he said. 'So I'm doing my part.

'And it's costing me dearly,' Fentie quipped. 'Sixty payments.'

Highways and Public Works Minister Archie Lang said that while $500 in annual savings for a vehicle may not sound like much, together, the savings are appreciable, and every penny saved can be directed to other needs like health care.

Historically, the Yukon began moving in the direction of higher fuel efficiency vehicles under the former Liberal government with its purchase of its first four-cylinder sedan back in the mid-1990s.

The first two hydbrids were purchased under the former Liberal government in 2001 and 2002.

Of the 80 SUVs in the central fleet managed by Highways and Public Works, 16 are now four-cylinder, with the purchase of 11 this fiscal year and five last year, fleet manager Stefan Voswinkel explained at Tuesday's press conference.

Of the 123 sedans in the inventory, 18 six-cylinder models have now been replaced with more fuel-efficient four-cylinder cars, with this year's purchase of 15 new vehicles, together with the three initial vehicles.

The government, said Voswinkel, was paying about $21,000 for a normal six-cylinder sedan, but is purchasing the four-cylinder replacements at a cost of $17,000, saving an additional $4,000 a vehicle on top of the fuel reduction.

'And last but not least, it follows the government climate change strategy because of each litre of fuel saved, there is less emissions.

'So it save the taxpayers a buck, and it save the environment.'

Voswinkel indicated that of the 123 sedans in the fleet, about half could be of the smaller compact, and sub-compact four-cylinder models.

It would be reasonable, given the annual replacement schedule, to expect that in four years, half of the sedans will be four-cylinder, he said.

Voswinkel also noted, however, that with today's technology, even replacing an older six-cylinder model with a new six-cylinder results in noticeable fuel savings.

Fuel efficiency, based on a 140,000-kilometre life over seven years, is a factor in the equation when issuing a tender for new vehicles, he said.

The fleet of 443 accounts for most government cars and trucks, including sedans, SUVs, passenger and cargo vans, and trucks up to five tons.

That inventory does not include the more specialized government vehicles managed by individual departments, such as fire trucks for Wildland Fire Management, or passenger vans and buses owned operated by the Department of Education, snow plows and transport trucks.