Officials tout new electric vehicle as a “win-win” for Canyon County, taxpayers
The Southwest Idaho Juvenile Detention Center (SWIJDC) and the Canyon County Fleet Department have started using an electric vehicle. It’s part of a pilot program meant to study the effectiveness and cost saving measures of electric vehicles compared to traditional gas-powered vehicles for on campus use, officials said.
“The e-ride Industries EXV2 Patriot is a low-speed, 100% electric work truck that will be used by SWIJDC around the county campus, primarily for thrice-daily trips to the Dale Haile Detention Center to pick-up meals for the juvenile detainees. At a cost of approximately two cents a mile to operate, the EXV2 Patriot features a max speed of 25mph and can go up to 55 miles on a single charge,” said Canyon County Public Information Officer Joe Decker.
“When the Fleet Department talked to me about this idea, I was really intrigued, and it made so much sense to go to the electric vehicle,” said SWIJDC Director Steve Jett. “Our employees will start using the EXV2 today after an initial training session.”
The EXV2 Patriot will replace a 1994 Mazda B-2300 compact pickup truck that was regularly undergoing maintenance to keep it running.
“We were constantly having maintenance issues with the Mazda because it was being used for such short trips and sitting parked most of the time, never allowing it to charge fully and the seals to be lubricated,” said Fleet Director Mark Tolman. “The new electric vehicle should drastically cut down on the time and money we spend on maintenance, which is a win-win for the county and the taxpayers.”
(photo: courtesy Joe Decker)
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.