Five new vehicles 'electrify' transportation at URI

KINGSTON, R.I. -- July 7, 2000 -- Thanks to the Rhode Island State Energy Office, five electric vehicles are now in use delivering mail, patrolling campus and transporting employees and equipment around the University of Rhode Island.

The vehicles were acquired by the state through a Federal Highway Congestion Mitigation Air Quality grant, and are designed to replace existing gasoline-burning vehicles. Manufactured by Solectria Corp. of Wilmington, Mass., the vehicles -- three micro-pickup trucks and two sedans -- are virtually silent in their operation and do not emit any pollutants.

"One major thrust of the URI master plan is to operate as environmentally sound as possible," explained Edward Smith, URI director of facilities services. "The acquisition of these electric vehicles is one more step in our commitment to a 'green' campus."

Each of the vehicles can travel approximately 60 miles before the batteries need to be recharged, a process that takes less than three hours. URI's Narragansett Bay Campus and W. Alton Jones Campus each have one vehicle. On the Kingston Campus, they are being used by Postal Services, Custodial Services and the Police and Security department.

According to Smith, URI is committed to gradually increasing the number of alternative fuel vehicles in use on campus. In addition to the new electric vehicles, the University also has three vehicles in its fleet fueled by natural gas.

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For Further Information: Todd McLeish 874-7892

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