True blue Aggies go green with purchase of hybrids

Utah State University is beefing up its fleet with smaller cars — hybrids to be exact.

Instead of transporting more people, which has been the focus in the past with large and often unsafe vans, USU's eight new sedans, which cost the university around $176,000, will emit less carbon monoxide and cruise with increased gas mileage.

The greener option, which comes in addition to the two hybrid vehicles already in USU's motor pool, will end up saving money for the university in the long run, said Kevin Phillips, USU fleet and resource recovery division manager.

"We're starting to transition our fleet toward the hybrid and other more fuel-efficient vehicles as much as we possibly can," Phillips said. "I feel that the investment will be returned by today's fuel prices."

USU's fleet of approximately 675 vehicles includes 70 to 75 rental cars used for transporting members of the campus community to and from meetings and conferences. Nearly 90 are sold off each year, after they reach five years of use or 100,000 miles. Some departments use vehicles longer due to less wear and tear.

Three of the new Toyota Priuses purchased are designated for the university's central rental fleet, while the others are ordered for use by specific departments. The school no longer owns any full-size passenger vans, having sold them all after a rollover accident killed eight students and an instructor three years ago.

Downsizing the fleet is part of adhering to a legislative mandate adopted in 2007 requiring state agencies to increase efficiencies and cut energy use 20 percent by 2014. A recent carbon-footprint study performed at USU's Logan campus showed that transportation accounted for nearly 47 percent of the school's output, including only a small portion from the fleet and the majority from commuters.

"We hope that having these vehicles available for faculty and staff will ease any anxieties about transitioning to a hybrid car and encourage departments to upgrade their vehicles," Phillips said.

On average, hybrids cost roughly $4,000 to $5,000 more than comparable vehicles, but Phillips believes the purchase will be made up in fuel efficiency and other benefits over the years. The current fleet averages about 18 miles per gallon. Phillips said the Priuses already in use on campus average about 48 mpg and newer models yet to be released to the public are boasting to get 80 mpg to 90 mpg, "which is promising."

"In the meantime, we have begun replacing vehicles in our fleet with the latest and most efficient technology that is out there," he said.