New Vehicles Aid in Safety and Sustainability Efforts

GEM

Being able to perform for eight hours or more on a single charge is just one of the many ways in which the GEM car promotes sustainability at Penn State University Park’s campus.

On Pennsylvania State University Park’s vast campus, Polaris GEM cars are transporting passengers, hauling equipment and assisting with landscape management. With sustainable power sources, street legal status and small vehicle footprints, GEM vehicles are providing the perfect solution for Penn State’s transportation and maintenance needs.

A priority for the purchase was selecting a vehicle that could perform a minimum of eight hours on a single charge. GEM’s battery options provide Penn State the ability to choose a battery system that does just that, without time wasted to recharge.

In addition to battery life, GEM provides options and features comparable to a full size truck. The street-legal status of GEM eliminates the necessity of driving utility vehicles on sidewalks, enhancing safety for pedestrians on campus.

Bruce Cifelli, Equipment Management and Services administrator at Penn State, notes, “With more on-road vehicle systems, GEM is a strong performer.” In addition to GEM’s high quality compared to conventional trucks, its compact size sets it apart, allowing easy maneuverability between buildings and on pathways where large trucks simply can’t go.

In the business of campus maintenance, time is money. Vehicles must be at peak performance to maintain efficiency and get the work done. Cifelli notes, “We’ve seen much less maintenance on these vehicles. That means less down time.” The time and cost savings go directly to the bottom line, making electric vehicles the perfect addition to a utility fleet.

When purchasing a utility vehicle, electric options have long been overlooked because of concerns about reduced capacity. GEM is a testament to the power of an electric option. With long-range batteries, regenerative braking, payload and towing capacities and automotive style suspension, GEM accomplishes what a utility vehicle should in places a truck can’t.

www.polaris.com

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Rush-Henrietta Central School District’s Sperry High School

    A New Perspective: Using Adaptive Reuse Concepts in K-12 Planning

    In the face of increasing pressures on construction timelines, budgets, and material availability, the renovation and reuse of pre-existing structures for new purposes can help bridge the gap between modern school programming and outdated school infrastructure.

  • Texas A&M Adds ALPR Technology to Parking Solutions

    Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, recently integrated automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) technology into its parking services and enforcement strategies, according to a news release. The university’s Transportation Services division deployed Genetec AutoVu ALPR to manage the campus’ 36,000+ parking spaces.

  • California High School Debuts $35M Performing Arts Center

    Irvine High School in Irvine, Calif., recently opened its new Performing Arts Center built in partnership with C.W. Driver Companies, according to a news release. The facility cost $35 million and covers about 25,000 square feet.

  • Kraus-Anderson Continues Work in Minnesota School District

    Maple River Schools in Mapleton, Minn., recently began construction on another project included in a district long-range facilities plan. Construction management firm Kraus-Anderson recently began work on two new classrooms and an outdoor track and field facility, according to a news release.

Digital Edition