“It would have to be a slow transition,” said Brown, adding that Chief Francis D. “Bud” Riley—in conjunction with University officials—will have the final word as to whether HUPD purchases the cars.
It’s Only Natural
Harris said his department has been examining alternative fuel options in the past two years for all University vehicles.
“We’re trying to find other solutions that would be more environmentally friendly, make less noise and reduce greenhouse gases,” Harris said.
According to the website of the Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition (NGVC), the carbon content of natural gas is lower than that of any other fossil fuel. Natural gas vehicles decrease the amount of exhaust emissions.
There are about 130,000 of them currently in use in the U.S., and over two million internationally.
Harris said that compressed natural gas also offers a safer alternative to gasoline. It has been proven not to explode in accidents, and its fuel storage cylinders are more durable than gasoline tanks, according to the NGVC website.
In terms of cost, Harris said the natural gas vehicles tend to cost about $5,500 more than their gasoline-powered counterparts, but with a combination of incentives from the U.S. Department of Energy, Ford and Key Span, the cost would balance out.
Over the next few months, the University will also test a natural gas-powered Ford shuttle van, which assists disabled individuals during the day and is on-call to transport students at night.
Harris said he has not yet determined when Harvard will switch over to more environmentally-friendly fuels because the technology is changing so rapidly.
“It’s safe to say we’re exploring all the other alternatives out there—electric, biodiesel, hydrogen fuel cell,” he said. “As the cost relating to acquiring alternative fuel vehicles comes down and the infrastructure to support it increases, it makes it easier to acquire those vehicles.”
But until then, Harvard will stick to its traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.
Or, as HUPD would say, the investigation is ongoing.
—Staff writer Jenifer L. Steinhardt can be reached at steinhar@fas.harvard.edu.