Sun Shines on University of Arizona Solar Electric Parking Vehicle

TUCSON, Arizona -- University of Arizona Parking & Transportation Services reports they love their new parking enforcement vehicle, a solar-electric truck from ZAP that went into service this week on the Tucson campus.

PTS says the main attraction for the new electric vehicle is that it gets part of its charge from the sun. According to statements in the campus newspaper, the Xebra was purchased to replace a 1998 gas engine pickup. The University says it has not purchased a gas vehicle since 2003 after implementing a purchasing policy for alternative fuels.

“We are promoting alternative transportation,” said PTS Marketing Manager Bill Davidson. “Maintenance costs are low and, of course, there are no emissions. The response from the community has been fantastic.”

The Xebra is a 100 percent battery electric vehicle, using neither gasoline nor a mixture of gasoline and electricity like many hybrids. While emissions are created in the generation of electricity, ZAP estimates that the Xebra can reduce emissions by 90 percent compared to gasoline vehicles. They say the solar panels can power the vehicle for several miles on a sunny day and help to reduce emissions even further.

Many fleets are turning to electric vehicles because their low fueling and maintenance costs can help save money. The Zap Truck costs 3 cents per mile to operate and was designed to be well-suited for University Campus settings. The truck also converts to a flatbed or a dump bed.

While Florida is known as The Sunshine State, the National Weather Service names Arizona as No. 1 when it comes to sun.