Alternative Fuels Policy and Vehicle Program

Fuels:

The University’s fleet fueling center is located at the south end of the new Transportation Operations Center. Four service islands offer a full complement of alternative fuels for its vehicle fleet, including fast fill compressed natural gas, bio-diesel and E-85 ethanol. This is in addition to conventional fuels such as unleaded and diesel.

This facility is open 24 hours a day and also services other local public fleet operations, such as the City of Norman. Fuel access is controlled by a fuel sentry system that uses a customized key, provided and programmed by Fleet Services, to identify the correct fuel type and activate the fuel pump appropriate for each vehicle. The system tracks fuel type, quantity, date/time and vehicle number.

The facility is also monitored by video cameras.

Vehicles:

Since 2008 the University of Oklahoma has required that every new vehicle purchased be capable of using an alternative fuel, be a hybrid or electric powered vehicle. This policy has resulted in a growing and diverse number of alternative fuel vehicles serving the transportation needs of the University.

These vehicles must use the alternative fuels provided at the Transportation Operations Center whenever fueling in the Norman/OKC metro area.

All new small utility vehicles purchased by the University must now be electric powered, instead of gas or diesel powered. Low-Speed Electric Vehicles, legal to drive on roads with posted speed limits of 35MPH or less, can also add versatility to the University’s fleet and replace larger gas powered pickups and vans that cost more to operate. About one-third of the University’s vehicle fleet is now composed of alternative fuel vehicles.