PRINCETON, MN - Wisconsin State Parks has purchased 15 EXV2 electric utility vehicles from E-Ride Industries, which is based in Princeton, Minn. Park services are using them for regular maintenance and cleaning of park facilities.

According to Gene Tiser, Acting Peninsula State Park Superintendent, the vehicles are servicing 468 campsites in five campgrounds, three group camp sites and five picnic areas. The E-Ride vehicles haul supplies and cleaning equipment to different flush toilet buildings and 17 vault toilets. The EXV2 vehicles travel at up to 25 mph and run 40-50 miles per charge, so servicing the park’s facilities are a fully day’s work for each vehicle. The Wisconsin vehicles (EXV2) feature a totally enclosed cab with a stake side truck bed (71 inches x 58 inches).

“These vehicles are quiet, have plenty of power and reduce the property’s carbon footprint. They’re roomy enough to hold supplies for a full day’s work, are easy for my workers to operate and are safe to drive” says Tiser.

According to E-Ride, the 100-percent electric utility vehicles emit zero emissions. They also generally cost 30- to 50-percent less to buy than a pick-up truck and cost 2.0 cents per mile to run, assuming $0.10 per kwh, the company stated.

Wisconsin State Parks said the public’s response has been positive and that officials visiting from other parks requested information about the vehicles.

“As a department, we are continually evaluating our programs and looking for new ways to streamline operations and realize savings,” said Landon Williams, Systems Manager for the Wisconsin DNR. “These E-Ride vehicles are one way we can accomplish those goals. Visitors to WI State Parks are concerned about the environment, especially when it comes to conserving and protecting Wisconsin’s natural resources. When they hear that we are replacing vehicles with internal combustion engines in favor of vehicles with zero emissions, their reaction has been overwhelmingly positive.”