UM purchases electric truck

Gregg Potter is a groundskeeper. Four days a week, he is at the University of Montana cutting grass, trimming shrubs and collecting garbage.
He also drives the same kind of truck Gov. Brian Schweitzer has been known to take for a spin – an electric one.
The University bought the truck purchased for its maintenance crew, marking an additional step in UM’s sustainability push. 
The vehicle was purchased with nearly $18,000 in Facilities Services revenue, according to Peggy Schalk, associate director of fiscal operations for Facilities Services.
She said the price of the truck ranges from $8,000 to $10,000 more than a normal vehicle used by the maintenance department.
However, the new vehicles are cheaper to use. Instead of guzzling gas, the truck runs on a battery, which is recharged every day after use.
Potter drove from garbage can to garbage can Tuesday morning. His white truck was similar to others roaming across campus, with a few notable exceptions.

On the side of the truck, black letters announced some of its prime features: “All Electric,” and “Zero Emissions.”
Potter said the truck is a good addition to his department.
“I think it sets an example to the students to conserve,” he said. “We’ve got to be thinking in a different direction. We’re a pretty wasteful nation.”
But not all UM students think electric vehicles are a step in the right direction toward a more sustainable campus.
Sam Cauthorn, a junior studying economics, said he doesn’t know what the best approach would be, but he doesn’t think a new electric vehicle is the answer.
“This step doesn’t matter that much because of where the energy (for charging electric vehicles) comes from,” he said, referring to electricity derived from coal-fired power plants and dams. “A real step would be to change the source of the energy.”
Still, it’s a good start, said Megan Gesler, a junior psychology major.
“But I don’t know how much of an impact one vehicle makes,” she said.
Though Gesler supports the electric vehicle for the time being, she said she hopes the university will see the recent purchase as a trial period before buying more.
That’s exactly what Schalk plans to do. If the electric truck performs well during the winter, another vehicle may be on the horizon.
Although electric cars offer one alternative to the energy crisis, Gesler said she thinks they still come with their own problems.
“We are so gas-and-oil reliant right now; I just hope we don’t fall off on the other side and become electricity-dependent,” she said.
Gesler said she thinks a better solution would be a balance between various energy sources.
Schalk said Facilities Services plans on using a mixture of hybrid and electric vehicles in its two fleets used for rentals and maintenance. It already has two hybrid vehicles in the rental fleet.
While driving down the Kim Williams Trail Tuesday morning toward another garbage can, Potter mentioned more benefits of electric vehicles.
“They’re really quiet, with no sound or smell,” he said.
He added this could also be a problem, as preoccupied students are often unaware of the small white truck ambling up behind them.
As he drove, Potter caught up to a jogger wearing headphones. After a minute or so, the jogger finally realized the vehicle was behind her and moved aside.
carly.flandro@umontana.edu