Energy prices have become a major factor in vehicle selection and as a result of the high price of gasoline, fleets have begun to look about for alternate means to propel their units. Electric vehicles have become a part of this trend, albeit on a small scale. EV's are finding their way into all types of fleets ranging from commercial to governmental.

One government unit that recently joined the move towards EVs is Florissant, Missouri.

This city of 72,000, located 17 miles northwest of St. Louis, is getting 10 electric cars, pickup trucks and stepvans for its fleet of vehicles to help ease the financial burden imposed on the budget by soaring gasoline prices.

"We need to find alternative methods to the internal combustion engine," says Jack Kretzer, the city's director of public works. "Gasoline costs too much."

Florrisant was one of 24 cities chosen by the Department of Energy to be a site demonstrator to prove that electric vehicles are feasible in all city and county fleet uses. DOE is paying the $15,400 cost per vehicle for Florissant. The city was chosen February 22, got its first vehicle May 13 and expects to have all 10 by fall. The 10 vehicles will represent 16 percent of the city's vehicle fleet.

"There isn't a job here, except garbage pickup, that can't be done with electric vehicles," Kretzer insists. "I even think some police work can be done in electric cars."

Kretzer says the cars can easily go 55 mph and travel 70 miles before a recharge. Charging the batteries will be as simple as plugging a cord into a socket. The battery system (the battery itself is lead acid) was designed by Western Research Industries in Las Vegas. The company purchases remanufactured bodies - Florissant is getting Datsun bodies - and installs its battery system in the vehicles. Kretzer estimates that each of Florissant's vehicles, except police cars, travel from 10 to 55 miles per day.

The city's new electric cars require approximately one kilowatt hour of electricity for each mile of operation. With a cost of about five cents per kilowatt hour, the price for operating the new electric fleet compares favorably with gasoline powered cars. But Kretzer says the real savings is in maintenance. "Maintenance should be half the cost of the conventional car and the electric vehicles should last longer, up to 10 years," he said.

To ensure a long life for the new vehicles, Kretzer commissioned Ziebart dealer Charlie Burge to do the rustproofing. Burge has the contract for all Florissant vehicles, but said the new electric models presented a special challenge.

"We had to be darn careful not to spray sealant on the electrical system or we could have shorted the whole motor," Burge explained. Burge's technicians solved the problem by wrapping the motor in plastic before processing.

The second problem, according to Burge, was curiosity. Burge said so many visitors came to take a look at the new vehicles that it caused a lengthy delay in performing the rust-proofing.

Kretzer is enthusiastic about the electric vehicles, and said he can't wait until they are incorporated into his fleet.

"It's exciting to be part of an important project like this," he said. "I have a lot of confidence in these vehicles. Electric cars aren't toys anymore. They're here, and they're doing a job for us."