The Facilities Services Division has been awarded a grant from the 2010 Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) Project. CFAT is a one million dollar initiative of the NC Solar Center – funded in part by federal dollars from the NC Department of Transportation – that provides funds to government, business and non-profit fleet and fuel providers for transportation-related emission reduction projects. In recognition of Facilities Services’ commitment to balancing transportation needs with environmental responsibility, Facilities Services will receive $55,510 to replace four combustion-powered vehicles now operating on campus with four fully electric vehicles.
University Mail Services (UMS), a unit of Facilities Services’ Business Operations Department, will use its portion of the grant award to purchase two fully electric Vantage GreenTruck cargo vans. The vehicles are equipped with a 35 horsepower motor and 72 volt AC drive system as an alternative fuel solution. The maintenance free batteries have an estimated 30,000 mile life, and provide up to a 40 mile range when fully charged.
UMS collects and delivers approximately seven million pieces of mail each year. Its external operations delivery unit services 190 locations within an approximate 10-mile radius of the main campus, twice daily. The Vantage GreenTruck cargo vans will be incorporated into regular mail routes, and are capable of navigating both campus streets and areas of campus with heavy volumes of foot traffic. They will replace two full-sized Dodge vans currently in UMS’ fleet and fueled with E-10 fuel.
The Housing Support section of Facilities Services’ Building Services Department will purchase two 100 percent electrically powered Global Electric Motorcars (GEM). The GEMs are equipped with a 7.0 horsepower motor and nine 8-volt maintenance-free gel batteries with a range of up to 40 miles per charge. They will replace one Ford F150 pickup truck and one Dodge Ram 2500 that consume E-10 fuel.
Housing Support is responsible for the physical condition of all University-owned residences – 32 campus residence halls, and three apartment communities made up of approximately 54 buildings – through services such as Maintenance, HVAC and Life Safety.
The makes and models of the electric vehicles will provide the appropriate alternative fuel solution for UNC Chapel Hill while meeting all of Facilities Services’ operational needs. They are virtually silent, which is vital when instruction is taking place on campus. Operationally, they are easy to navigate the campus, and lighter in weight so they will not damage the campus’ iconic brick walkways, but will still provide adequate space for tools, equipment and transporting other items. All of the electric vehicles purchased will be licensed for street use.
“Facilities Services shares the NC Solar Center’s commitment to clean air and is proud to have earned this recognition of both our record of environmental stewardship and our ongoing efforts to ensure a safe and healthy environment through the use of renewable energy,” said UNC’s Chief Facilities Officer Van Dobson. “Ultimately, the entire University and community will benefit from this clean fuel project.”
The official announcement and acknowledgement of Facilities Services’ award was held in a recognition ceremony as part of the NC Solar Center’s Mobilizing NC: Where Air Quality, Energy and Transportation Meet conference on May 26 in Raleigh.
University Mail Services (UMS), a unit of Facilities Services’ Business Operations Department, will use its portion of the grant award to purchase two fully electric Vantage GreenTruck cargo vans. The vehicles are equipped with a 35 horsepower motor and 72 volt AC drive system as an alternative fuel solution. The maintenance free batteries have an estimated 30,000 mile life, and provide up to a 40 mile range when fully charged.
UMS collects and delivers approximately seven million pieces of mail each year. Its external operations delivery unit services 190 locations within an approximate 10-mile radius of the main campus, twice daily. The Vantage GreenTruck cargo vans will be incorporated into regular mail routes, and are capable of navigating both campus streets and areas of campus with heavy volumes of foot traffic. They will replace two full-sized Dodge vans currently in UMS’ fleet and fueled with E-10 fuel.
The Housing Support section of Facilities Services’ Building Services Department will purchase two 100 percent electrically powered Global Electric Motorcars (GEM). The GEMs are equipped with a 7.0 horsepower motor and nine 8-volt maintenance-free gel batteries with a range of up to 40 miles per charge. They will replace one Ford F150 pickup truck and one Dodge Ram 2500 that consume E-10 fuel.
Housing Support is responsible for the physical condition of all University-owned residences – 32 campus residence halls, and three apartment communities made up of approximately 54 buildings – through services such as Maintenance, HVAC and Life Safety.
The makes and models of the electric vehicles will provide the appropriate alternative fuel solution for UNC Chapel Hill while meeting all of Facilities Services’ operational needs. They are virtually silent, which is vital when instruction is taking place on campus. Operationally, they are easy to navigate the campus, and lighter in weight so they will not damage the campus’ iconic brick walkways, but will still provide adequate space for tools, equipment and transporting other items. All of the electric vehicles purchased will be licensed for street use.
“Facilities Services shares the NC Solar Center’s commitment to clean air and is proud to have earned this recognition of both our record of environmental stewardship and our ongoing efforts to ensure a safe and healthy environment through the use of renewable energy,” said UNC’s Chief Facilities Officer Van Dobson. “Ultimately, the entire University and community will benefit from this clean fuel project.”
The official announcement and acknowledgement of Facilities Services’ award was held in a recognition ceremony as part of the NC Solar Center’s Mobilizing NC: Where Air Quality, Energy and Transportation Meet conference on May 26 in Raleigh.
