Donated Electric Cars to Help UB Reduce Pollution, Cut Costs

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo has received a donation of 10 zero-emission electric cars that are expected to reduce pollution on campus, as well as cut operating costs.

The Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) are among 130 donated to the State University of New York as a joint effort of the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Global Electric Motorcars LLC, a division of DaimlerChrysler.

Some 26 SUNY institutions have received cars. The University at Albany and UB received the largest number, 10 each.

Smaller than a "normal" automobile, the GEM is a five horsepower, two- and four-passenger vehicle with a top speed of about 25 miles per hour. It meets both National Highway Safety Administration and New York State traffic safety standards for use on private property and public roads with speed limits of up to 35 miles per hour. The vehicles are equipped with three-point seat belts, safety-glass windshields, wipers, headlights, turn signals and mirrors.

UB received six, two-seat units, valued at $6,995 each, and four four-seat units, valued at $8,995 each. The vehicles will be used by various departments on campus for a variety of activities, including staff transport, according to John P. Hayes, manager of facilities operations for University Facilities.

Although the base models were donated at no cost to UB, individual departments have chosen a variety of options -- from extended warranties to soft doors to utility beds, Hayes noted, adding that these options will be paid for by each department. None of the options have been installed yet, he said.

While NYPA and GEM originally gave 130 cars to be divided among all SUNY campuses, more units have become available since then, Hayes said. UB has requested 21 more cars and is waiting to hear if the request has been approved, he said.

"The use of these donated GEM cars on SUNY campuses will reduce by thousands of pounds the emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and other gases to protect the environment," SUNY Chancellor Robert L. King said on Tuesday in announcing the gift. "It also will help SUNY control costs by eliminating the use of more than 15,000 gallons of gasoline per year."

The GEM electric vehicles are the perfect match for SUNY and many of the power authority's public-sector customers, says Eugene W. Zeltmann, NYPA president and chief executive officer. "These low-speed, electric vehicles will replace an array of combustion-powered vehicles now operating on SUNY campuses," he says.

Moreover, in addition to zero emissions, the GEM offers lower maintenance costs, greater efficiency and the ability to operate on narrow thoroughfares such as campus roadways, notes Barry Carr, a representative of GEM.

SUNY is the single largest beneficiary of the NYPA/GEM donation program, a joint effort to place 300 GEM vehicles in service at more than 40 locations around the state, including state and local government agencies, public parks, state universities and colleges, and other non-profit organizations, in an effort to promote clean air and reduce noise pollution.