 New Campus Car’s Electric Debut
What goes faster than a pedestrian, is bigger than a bread box, and can climb Lone Mountain without breaking a sweat on its battery pack?
Answer: the USF car. Make that “cart.”
Forget vans, trucks, or even USF President Stephen A. Privett, S.J.’s green Mini Cooper roadster. The most popular and utilitarian USF car today is an electric golf-cart replica called the “Think Neighbor.” In Dons green or commercial blue, a fleet of 26 “Neighbors” is currently ferrying everyone from public safety officers to purchasing personnel around campus.
“They are going to be invaluable. They’re really useful for moving people and equipment around,” said David Perry, operations manager for communications and network services, who uses his department’s car to transport computers and technicians.
Made by Ford, with buggy-like tires and a light aluminum frame, the car was originally made to meet a state mandate requiring car companies deliver a quota of zero-emission vehicles starting in 2003. The prototype never got beyond a trial period because of mechanical problems, canceling production of the “Neighbor” in December. But that still left most dealerships with an inventory they had to deliver this year. So San Francisco’s S&C Ford decided to donate the cars and chose USF as one of its beneficiaries, 26 times.
“In looking at who we could donate to, we thought of USF because it’s local, it’s in San Francisco, so why not give some to them?” said André Teixeira, S&C Ford’s commercial accounts manager for the electric cars.
It also helped that a former S&C owner, Aldo Fontana, graduated from USF in 1941 and was a donor to the university. Other recipients included Goodwill, St. Mary’s College, and an electric contractor doing repair work on the Bay Bridge.
The fleet of electric cars should help diminish pollution on campus and, because of a maximum speed of 25 mph, even increase pedestrian safety, said Purchasing Director Janet Teymourtash. So far, divvying up the buggies hasn’t proven to be a problem; there are more than enough to go around. A number of departments, from information and technology services to the One Card office have been assigned a car. Public safety has three, decorated with their signature decals. Plant services has three, the admissions office has one, and the Jesuit community will be given at least two.
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