Published: July 22, 2008 01:22 pm         

Frostburg State adding hybrids to vehicle fleet

FROSTBURG - In an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, Frostburg State University has begun to replace its vehicle fleet with hybrids.

"This is part of our campus-wide sustainability initiative," said President Jonathan Gibralter.

So far, FSU has five new Honda Civic hybrids that average between 43 and 45 miles per gallon. The new hybrids replaced Ford Tauruses and Chevrolet Malibus that average between 24 and 30 miles per gallon.

In addition to being environmentally friendly, a hybrid, which combines a combustion engine and an electric motor, is economically advantageous, considering today's high gas prices.

Even Gibralter's Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is also considered a fleet vehicle, was replaced with a Toyota Highlander Hybrid that averages 27 miles per gallon in the city and 25 miles per gallon highway.

"With the Cherokee, I couldn't drive to Baltimore and back on a tank of gas," said Gibralter, who travels frequently for meetings, such as the University System of Maryland Board of Regents meetings in Adelphi. Gibralter put approximately 44,000 miles on his Jeep from August 2006 to the beginning of this month.

Being able to travel to a meeting or conference without having to stop for gas is an added perk because fleet vehicles can be filled at the campus gas pump, which is tax-exempt, said Gibralter.

Gibralter wants to continue to replace FSU vehicles with hybrids in coming years; however, some vehicles such as dump trucks and other utility-type vehicles are not available with hybrid engines.

Between July 1, 2006, and June 30, 2007, FSU fleet vehicles used 46,607 gallons of gas and the diesel fleet consumed 7,534 gallons, according to Ray Blank, FSU director of facilities.

For information about FSU's Learning Green, Living Green sustainability initiative, log on to www.frostburg.edu/lglg.

Contact Jennifer Raley at jraley@times-news.com.