One of four electric vehicles that will be used on campus

Taking another step with its energy conservation
initiatives, the University has purchased four electric vehicles to be used by the mail processing and physical plant operations staff for transporting them to work sites on campus. The new vehicles have replaced older, less efficient, gasoline-powered trucks.

The Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) vehicles, which have a top speed of thirty-five mph, are manufactured by the Chrysler Corporation, and use batteries as a power source. Currently, they are simply plugged into a wall outlet for recharging. Each charge lasts for approximately fifty miles. Future plans call for the installation on campus of photovoltaic panels which turn sunlight into electricity for even more savings.

“The GEM vehicles produce no tailpipe emissions,” reports Lou Poandl, director, physical plant operations. “Using these vehicles reduces our carbon footprint and saves us money.”

The GEM vehicles are among the many “green’’ initiatives the University has undertaken as a member of the American College of University Presidents Climate Commitment. Since 2001, Poandl reports, the University has saved more than $10.5 million and reduced energy use with numerous projects such as programming building temperatures during unoccupied times, using energy-efficient motors, bulbs, and fixtures, installing motion sensors in various facilities and educating the University community regarding the benefits of making effective and efficient use of facilities, equipment and utility supplies.