| Electric car drives Tech's launch to green power | ||
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Green power just got wheels at Tech, where maintenance workers have begun using the first electric-powered car at the university purchased with the sustainable campus fee. The Neighborhood Electric Vehicle, or NEV, which features an egg-shaped cab with a short bed, reaches a top speed of 25 mph. Approved by the Tennessee Department of Transportation for public roads, the vehicle is ideal for saving energy while driving around campus at slow speeds, said Larry Wheaton, TTU facilities engineer. “Purchasing an electric car fits into our concept of making the campus greener,” said Wheaton. “Driving this car will be much more efficient than using one with the gasoline motor idling at 15 mph, plus it has a zero smog index rating.” Plans to purchase the car were announced this summer when TTU released information about the first projects to be funded by the sustainable campus fee of $8 per undergraduate student per semester. The vehicle’s purchase price, $11,250, is part of the more than $100,000 in funds being spent. To offset the cost of charging the electric battery, the university will be adding solar collectors on campus to feed back into the power grid. |
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•News Tech launches new marketing campaign Bettoli and Ting share Caplenor Research Award Two grants total $2.6 million for STEM education, research Tech represented at French ceremony honoring Sgt. York Record enrollment breaks 10,000 mark More national recognition for Tech Electric car drives TTU’s launch to green power Clarksville plant reaps benefits of energy workshops |
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More information about TTU’s sustainable campus fee can be found at www.tntech.edu/scf. (Spring 2008) |
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Tech President Bob Bell drives the university's new electric car. Instead of using traditional gas-powered vehicles, maintenance workers drive the electric car when they need to supervise projects. |