Princeton, Minn., 1/7/11—Wisconsin’s forward-thinking state park
system had two goals when replacing trucks used for park maintenance and
cleaning. First, they wanted to be good environmental stewards. Next, they
wanted to save money. Amazingly, they did both—and much more—by purchasing a
fleet of 15 E-Ride electric vehicles manufactured by E-Ride Industries (www.e-ride.com)
in Princeton, Minnesota.
The
100% electric utility vehicles feature zero emissions. They also
simplify maintenance. In general, they cost from 30 to 50 percent less to buy than
a pick-up truck and are just a fraction of the cost to run: 2.0 cents per mile
assuming $0.10 per kwh. They are also simple to operate. Made in America, these
vehicles travel at up to 25 mph and run 40-50 miles per charge. The Wisconsin vehicles (EXV2) are “workhorse”
models and feature a totally enclosed cab with a stake side truck bed
(71”x58”). Some units were customized with full-length aluminum enclosures to
protect the payload.
According
to Gene Tiser, Acting Peninsula State Park Superintendent, the vehicles are
really being put to the test. The park has 468 campsites in 5 campgrounds, 3
group camp sites and 5 picnic areas. The E-Ride vehicles haul supplies and
cleaning equipment to different flush toilet buildings and 17 vault
toilets. It’s a full day’s work for both vehicles. Property staff re-charges
the batteries nightly.
“These
vehicles are quiet, have plenty of power and reduce the property’s carbon
footprint. They’re roomy enough to hold supplies for a full day’s work, are
easy for my workers to operate and are safe to drive” says Tiser.
The
public’s response has been so positive that officials visiting from other parks
requested information in hopes they could use them, too. Business people have
also inquired about using them at their own facilities.
The
administrative side is equally pleased. According to Landon Williams, Systems
Manager for the Wisconsin DNR, “As a department, we are continually evaluating
our programs and looking for new ways to streamline operations and realize savings.
These E-Ride vehicles are one way we can accomplish those goals. Also, he adds
“Visitors to WI State Parks (www.wiparks.net) are concerned about the
environment, especially when it comes to conserving and protecting Wisconsin’s natural
resources. When they hear that we are replacing vehicles with internal
combustion engines in favor of vehicles with zero emissions, their reaction has
been overwhelmingly positive.”
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