By
Jeremy Duda
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Toyota Prius a hit with faculty, staff
The UA motor pool has taken a step toward ecological responsibility with the purchase of a 2001 Toyota Prius.
The Prius is a gasoline-electric hybrid car that uses new technology to reduce emissions and increase mileage. The car averages about 52 miles to the gallon for inner-city driving.
While most of the vehicle's power is provided by large batteries that are sealed in the trunk area, the car uses gasoline when more power is necessary, such as to maintain cruising speed, when it typically gets the best mileage.
The car, which comes with a 1.5-liter engine and an automatic transmission, was purchased almost two weeks ago from Larry Miller Toyota in Phoenix for $20,450.
"I think it is an absolutely revolutionary breakthrough in transportation," said Mike Mencinger, UA facilities management grounds shop superintendent.
Mencinger, who bought the car for the motor pool, said he was very impressed with its attributes. It gets twice the mileage of gasoline-powered vehicles, has more torque than most other cars and is "very futuristic," he said.
Information such as speed and engine temperature, which is usually indicated by gauges on the dashboard, appears at the base of the windshield, and every five minutes an average mileage is given.
"You don't really have to take your eyes off the road to see what you're doing," Mencinger said.
The motor pool provides vehicles to UA faculty, staff and students who need transportation for university operations. Since being introduced to the motor pool, the Prius has already been checked out about three times.
The car's maiden voyage was made Thursday by geosciences staff scientist Christopher Eastoe, who took the car to a conference in Socorro, N.M.
"If it is available I would certainly be very happy to drive it again," Eastoe said.
That is not likely, though, as Mencinger expects the Prius to be a hot item at the motor pool.
"I've got a feeling it's going to be very popular, so I think we won't see it much," he said.
Mencinger already has one more Prius ordered for the motor pool, and is even considering buying one for himself.
"I drove it around as much as my business manager would let me. After you drive it you wonder 'why can't all cars be like this?'" he said.
