Using Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Green Community grant funds, The Town of Wayland has recently purchased two new all-electric Nissan Leafs and a plug-In hybrid Ford Fusion.  The Leafs will be used by the Town Assessors for short trips around town.

“I am very impressed with the vehicle, its power, speed, options and range with a charge,” said Assistant Assessor, Don Clarke, who has driven the Leaf extensively since they arrived in October.

The grant also funded the installation of two Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at Town Building. The four parking spaces adjacent to the recycling dumpster are now reserved for electric vehicle charging and are free to the public when not being used by Town vehicles. The stations are part of the ChargePoint network and will require a ChargePoint Card that can be obtained online or over the phone.

The Energy and Climate Committee led the effort to obtain the grant funding. “With our first two Green Communities grants we funded measures that reduced energy use in our town buildings.  We are thrilled to take these steps toward making our town vehicles cleaner and more efficient,” said Anne Harris, Committee co-chair.

The two Nissan Leafs have replaced two Ford Crown Victorias which on average achieved only 17 miles per gallon of gasoline.  The resulting savings to the Town will be 233 gallons per year and approximately $365 per year for each vehicle once the electricity costs are taken into account.

The Ford Fusion plug-in hybrid will replace a Ford Taurus resulting in $215 in annual savings and consumption of 167 fewer gallons of gasoline.