E-15 Fuel is Coming Later this Month

In late February or early March our E-10 fuel will be switching to an E-15 blend in accordance with state law. This change will be seamless and no action will need to be taken by drivers when fueling at our pumps on campus. When you are away from campus needing E-15 use the Wright Express (WEX) fuel card at a commercial station and choose unleaded fuel that is 88-octane.

E-15 is certified for use in any car, van, or truck, 2001 and newer but E-15 has NOT been approved for non-automotive engines like, lawn mowers and other small or off-road engines. For customers with non-automotive engines that cannot use E-15 we can order you a WEX fuel credit card so you can purchase non-alcohol blended fuel at commercial gas stations when our conversion to E-15 is complete. Please let us know if you have any questions about this change or if you will need a WEX card for this purpose.

New Online Accident Reporting – Accident Information Form for Vehicles

With the implementation of the Online Accident Report, Risk Management has created the Accident Information Form as a helpful tool to assist UI Drivers at the accident scene when gathering information. Please print the form today and get it into your vehicle(s). Printing Tips: make sure to print double-sided as there is information on both sides of the form. There are two forms on one piece of paper, please cut the form in half after printing. (You may discard the Vehicle Accident Report forms since accidents are now reported online.)

*The Online Accident Report can be accessed through Employee Self-Service under “General Systems and Tools”. Students can also access it through MyUI in the “Student Information” tab.

Getting the Most From your EV Battery

Battery range is top of mind for most electric vehicle owners and potential buyers. Here are some examples that drain your EV battery the quickest. Driving: City vs. Highway, driving at higher speeds requires more energy than driving at lower speeds. Unlike gas-powered cars, EVs typically get better mileage driving in the city compared to cruising down the interstate. The start and stop of city driving, actually charges the battery through regenerative braking. Acceleration, if you have a heavy right foot you will see your range drop more quickly. Smooth acceleration helps support a longer battery range. Weather Conditions, batteries do not like the cold and high heat and range can be diminished by up to 32% in freezing temps for some models. Heat and Air Conditioning, running heat or AC is a huge draw on EV electricity, utilizing seat warmers or opening windows for fresh air is a more efficient way to stay warm or cool down.

Spring Break Reservations

Just a reminder that if you need a vehicle on or around Spring Break, get your reservation in NOW! If you need a minivan, SUV, or need to pull a trailer and have not yet submitted your requests it might be too late. We have pretty good availability on cars, but our Suburbans and minivans have already been booked. Our out-sourcing provider is also out of Suburbans and minivans for the Spring Break period. If you have a need for one of these types of vehicles let us know right away so we can try to help you.

Does Your Program Need Temporarily Assigned Vehicles for Summer?

If your program needs a vehicle for summer, please let us know ASAP so we can try to help you. Vehicles are in short supply this year and we might not have enough to go around.

Honest Mike’s Used Cars

Looking to buy a vehicle? Honest Mike has got some good ones coming down the pipeline. Next to hit auction will be a 2017 gold Ford Fusion Hybrid with 66k miles, a silver 2015 Ford Focus with only 22k miles, and a 2015 Ford F-250 4x4 crew cab with 42K miles. Take a look at our GovDeals auction page, check back frequently for new listings so you don’t miss out.