Temporary Fuel Island Closure 9/19

We have some fuel island maintenance scheduled for this coming Thursday, September 19. The fuel island will be closed starting at 8am and should be re-opened by 1pm the same day. They will be replacing and upgrading our outdated tank monitoring system. 

Kiosk vs. Delayed Dispatch, Which is Right for You?

Have a trip that starts over the weekend or on a day we are not open? We have two options for this scenario, a “Delayed Dispatch” out of the Fleet Services Main office, or the 24/7 self-service kiosk inside Hospital Parking Ramp 2.

Delayed Dispatch is used when you have a trip that has a departure time over the weekend or on a day we are closed. Keys can be picked up at our office at 5pm on Friday or the business day prior to departure. The charges will start when the trip starts. Delayed dispatches are checked out and returned at the main Fleet Services Office. Parking is available at this location for one personal vehicle per reservation.

The Kiosk is a designated self-service check out location on the west side of campus. It is accessible 24/7 and is in the lower level 1 of Hospital Parking Ramp 2 near the south elevator. Parking for personal vehicles is not available at the kiosk, the vehicles are not always cleaned between trips, and the customer is required to re-fuel the vehicle after use. The kiosk does offer hourly rates for trips of 4 hours or less.

Hot Cars and Cell Phones, A Combustible Pairing

We found out recently by first-hand experience that a cell phone left inside or on the dash of a vehicle in the summertime is a major fire risk. Leaving a cellphone in a car with windows shut can cause them to overheat and burn. When a lithium-ion battery hits 140 to 160 degrees it starts releasing poisonous gases before it starts to burn rapidly and intensely. This phenomenon is called “thermal runaway” and it can be very dangerous. Lithium-ion battery fires are very difficult to extinguish and a normal household fire extinguisher will not help. If you encounter a battery fire you need to call 9-1-1 right away and let them handle it. Thankfully the fire in our vehicle was noticed quickly and the vehicle was not a total loss. Check out this article from Jacksonville Today with some more information about this potential hazard.

Football Parking for State Vehicles

As a reminder, if you have a University of Iowa vehicle that you normally park in lots 40, 43, 52, 53, 49, or 75 you need to move it on football Saturdays. If you need help finding a place to park during this time, please call the Parking Office at 319-335-1475 and they would be happy to help you.  

New Accessible Van for Rental

We recently received a new accessible van to replace our old 2014 MV-1. The new van is a 2024 Chrysler Pacifica with a rear entry ramp and is huge upgrade over the MV-1. The van has wheelchair restraints and seating for the driver, and 4 additional passengers. Our model has a full suite of advanced driver assist safety features. The rates for the accessible van are the same as a traditional minivan and can be specifically requested on your Fleet Services Requisition for a rental vehicle if your department has a need for it.

Honest Mike’s Used Cars

Currently up on our GovDeals site is a white 2016 Ford E-350 Step Van with about 48k miles. We had some auctions close late last week and the new vehicles should be posted soon. Keep a lookout for a 2015 Ford Focus with 62k miles that should get listed this week. If you are still looking for a minivans we will have more of those coming soon. 

Fleet Factoid – PHEV to Bridge the Gap

What is a PHEV? PHEV stands for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, a type of car that can run using a combustion engine like a normal car, an electric motor and battery like an electric car, or a combination of the two. The plug-in aspect allows you to charge a battery for a small amount of electric only range (15-30 miles). Once the battery runs out, the engine kicks in and you’re back to driving a normal car again. A PHEV vehicle can serve as a nice introduction to electric vehicles and help bridge the gap to a full electric future. Check out this article from Top Gear about PHEV.