CHARLESTON - Eastern Illinois University has big plans for small electric-powered vehicles over the next few years.

Gary Reed, director of facilities planning and management, said Eastern plans to eventually replace about a half dozen of its gas-powered minivans with small electric vehicles.

"We have to give credit to the administration for supporting this green concept," he said.

Reed said the electric vehicles do not burn fossil fuels, so they will enable Eastern to be more environmentally friendly while reducing its fuel costs. These compact-looking vehicles can go 30 to 40 miles on a charge and be recharged in an hour.

In addition, Reed said they are ideal for getting around the 325-acre campus.

"The university master plan is heading toward more of a pedestrian-friendly campus. We want to take vehicles away from the core of the campus," Reed said. "The small vehicles are going to be a whole lot easier to maneuver into the core of the campus."

John Sigler, associate support services director for facilities planning and management, said Eastern acquired the first of these vehicles this winter from Global Electric Motorcars.

Sigler said the six-seat vehicle, available for rent on campus, has taken athletic director candidates on tours. The vehicle's seating area can be enclosed with canvas sides and heated during cold weather or left open in warm weather.

Reed said Eastern's next vehicle from Global Electric will have two seats, hard sides and a storage bed for use by the university's locksmiths. He said grounds crews, maintenance staff and others who need to move around campus can use the vehicles.

Ryan Siegel, campus energy coordinator, said some have described the small electric vehicles as looking like "glorified golf carts."

"Golf carts do not have a suspension like this. When you are driving it around, it feels more like a car (more)than anything," Siegel said.

Global Electric vehicles have seat belts, turn signals, head and brake lights, a horn, adjustable mirrors and windshield wipers, so it is ready for street use, officials said.

The Charleston City Council approved an ordinance amendment on Feb. 5 allowing the school's vehicles on city streets adjacent to campus.

Reed said Eastern's small vehicles previously had to take a cumbersome route through campus to get from the fleet parking lot west of O'Brien Field to job sites.

"This way, we can get out on Grant Avenue and go directly to our jobs," Reed said.

Sigler noted that the vehicles, which top out at 25 mph, cannot be used on Lincoln Avenue, University Drive and 18th Street because the speed there exceeds 35 mph.

Reed said Eastern already uses four gas- or diesel-powered small vehicles and two golf carts.

In Mattoon, Ray Rieck, vice president of business services for Lake Land College, said the college has four small micro trucks and vans as well as nine golf carts for its 308-acre campus.

"Just because of the sheer size of the campus, they are the most efficient means of transportation," Rieck said. "We can't drive a full-size vehicle to get through the entire campus, especially with students present."

Rieck said the micro trucks and vans get about 50 miles per gallon, so they also have helped Lake Land reduce fuel costs.

Lake Lake acquired these vehicles about four years ago and likely will use them for several more years before buying replacements, Rieck said.

Some staff members were concerned at first about the vehicles being inoperable in the winter, he said.

"Once the staff used them, they really liked them, and they have worked out well," Rieck said.

Rob Stroud can be reached at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 348-5734.