It's not the next Hertz, but a recently completed electric vehicle will join the fleet of rental cars at the University Transportation Services.
Last year, Engineering students developed a car that used both electricity and natural gas. The natural gas fuel has now been phased out, and the car is completely electric.
The transformed Plymouth Neon was originally donated by Chrysler Corporation to Engineering students who would develop a car that used alternative fuels.
Jim Hadley, an Transportation Services employee, phased out the natural-gas part of the system. Hadley said that even with all the safeguards, the natural-gas element "was a time bomb waiting to go off."
The Engineering students used the facilities at Transportation Services to complete the project, and when they were done, the car shifted into the hands of Pat Cunningham.
Cunningham, manager of Transportation Services, said he's been interested in electric vehicles for five years, and will now let members of the University community rent the electric car.
"It's prototype stuff, one of a kind," Hadley said. "I can tell you there is not another Neon like this anywhere in the world."
Yet there are other electric vehicles out there. Cunningham said that every major car company is currently working on one. All electric cars have similar features.
The cars run on 30 nickel-cadmium batteries, weighing 800 pounds, which will support up to 70 miles of highway driving and 55 miles in the city. Then they need to be recharged for 10 hours.
"They don't have a long operating range between charges," Cunningham said. "But that's not a disadvantage for us here at the University because our vehicles don't go that far in a given day."
The electric vehicle comes complete with a heater, radio and dual air bags. The electric power system is also safe from explosion.
"Measure this against a gasoline car, and this is really much safer," Cunningham said of the car. He said he believes electricity is a valid fuel alternative.
"Electric will be the (type of vehicle) that is the most viable," he said. This is based on issues such as fuel availability, safety and maintenance.
In many areas, the electric vehicle is a viable option for the future.
The completely overhauled engine and operating system don't need oil changes or other regular repairs, like many standard cars. The pricing is competitive too.
"If you consider charging alone, it's much less expensive for the electricity that goes in to the batteries than for the gasoline to fill up your tank," Cunningham said. A full recharge costs "a couple bucks."
Looking towards the future, the batteries can only be recharged 1,000 times, and when new batteries are eventually needed, the car owner will spend about $100,000 dollars for the set.
"Then they aren't going to compare that well," Cunningham said.
Other setbacks include the limited range, and the slow acceleration between zero and 20 mph. Once above this speed, the car rides as well as or better than any gasoline-fueled vehicle, Hadley said.
The vehicle hardly hums when idling, and during acceleration, only a low purr reminiscent of a jet plane fills the vehicle.
There are no plans to build another electric vehicle soon, but Cunningham said he'd like to get his next electric vehicle from one of the Big Three. He would like to compare their cars with his. "We've learned a lot for ourselves building this car, so our staff feels pretty well-versed in repairing these vehicles."
Although people may not see flocks of electric vehicles on the roads any time soon, don't count them out. Hadley has confidence in the electric alternative to gasoline.
"It's the future of cars, when you come right down to it. There's going to be electric cars."
JENNIFER BRADLEY-SWIFT/Daily
Jim Hadley, a Transportation Services employee, exhibits the engine of the University's latest electric car. The vehicle runs on 30 nickel-cadmium batteries for up to 70 miles of highway driving and 55 miles in the city, but takes 10 hours to recharge.