University of Oklahoma has 160 vehicles that run on alternative energy

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Alternative energy boosts University of Oklahoma

Published: September 8, 2009
NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma has 160 vehicles that run on alternative energy, including five street-legal electric cars.


Two of the electric cars are used to deliver mail on campus, and Beth Gatewood, OU assistant administrator of printing, mailing and document production, said the cars have saved the time and expense of having to refuel every other day.

The cars are ready to go after they’re recharged outside her building.

"They’re fun; they’re quiet,” Gatewood said. "We can still get in all the small places on campus we need to squeeze through. Really, you won’t believe how quiet they are.”

Kris Glenn, marketing and public relations specialist for Parking and Transportation Services, said OU fleet services also plans to buy five compressed natural gas buses with federal stimulus money and to convert two Chevrolet Impalas for the same fuel.

"It’s part of a university-wide initiative to be a better steward of the environment,” Glenn said. "President (David) Boren has made it university policy that if an alternative fuel vehicle is available for the type of vehicle we need, then it will be purchased.”


Other initiatives
OU also opened its new 33,000-square-foot Transportation Operations Center late last year, which helps support the use of alternative energy vehicles. The center on Chesapeake Street has eight compressed natural gas lines and four fast-fill pumps for biodiesel and ethanol.

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