So you think you drive a gas guzzler?
Try getting behind the wheel of a garbage truck, a stretch limo, a postal service truck, a school bus or a fire truck.
The cost of fuel at the pump has most Lawrence motorists groaning, and for big fleet operators or drivers of service vehicles, every incremental increase in price per gallon can mean barrels of dollars.
For example, when the cost of a gallon of gasoline goes up by a penny, it costs the U.S. Postal Service an extra million dollars a day, according to postal authorities.
The Lawrence post offices have 77 delivery vehicles.
"We try to be careful when we assign carriers additional work that they're not driving all over town to do it," says Judy Raney, Lawrence postmaster. "We try to be real aware of the distance they need to travel to do things because ... we know that every mile costs."
The city's newest garbage trucks are powered by Mercedes engines, a plus, officials said, because they are relatively fuel efficient.
"Even though it sounds expensive (to drive a Mercedes) ... it gets a few tenths of a gallon better fuel economy," than other trucks, said Steve Stewart, central maintenance garage manager for the city of Lawrence. "That adds up when you stop and think about how much fuel we use per year. It adds up."
Read on to learn just how much these fuel hogs swallow.
And for contrast, learn a little about a high-tech bicycle that you don't even need to pedal.
<h3>Garbage truck No. 455</h3> <p><strong>Make</strong>: Sterling<br /> <strong>Model</strong>: LT9513<br /> <strong>Year</strong>: 2004<br /> <strong>Engine</strong>: Six-cylinder, 781-cubic-inch Mercedes MBE 4000, with Allison automatic transmission<br /> <strong>Tank</strong>: 50 gallons<br /> <strong>Fuel</strong>: Diesel<br /> <strong>Mileage</strong>: 2.854 miles per gallon, using 1,885 gallons to travel 5,379 miles so far this year</p><br /> <p>"It's not great mileage, but it's pretty reasonable for this type of service," says Steve Stewart, central maintenance garage manager for the city of Lawrence. "It's not designed to get out and run down the highway and get great gas mileage. It's designed to get lots of trash. You've got to remember: A truck like this weighs in the 6,000-pound range when it's fully loaded." </p>
<h3>12-passenger limousine</h3> <p><strong>Make and model</strong>: Stretch Lincoln Towncar<br /> <strong>Year</strong>: 2002<br /> <strong>Engine</strong>: 4.6 liter V8<br /> <strong>Tank</strong>: 19 gallons<br /> <strong>Fuel</strong>: Mid-grade gas<br /> <strong>Miles per gallon</strong>: 13<br /> <strong>Refuel</strong>: Filled tank three times last week<br /> <strong>Spent</strong>: $94.68 last week</p> <p>"We did have to raise prices last year - up one dollar to $9 anywhere in town instead of $8. It still didn't cover gas prices, but at least it gave us a little bit to work with," says Dave Old, general manager of Midwest Transportation. <br /> "I'm paying $3 a gallon for diesel fuel right now, and it's killing me already. ... I don't think anyone likes it, but all you can do is grin and bear it."</p>
<h3>U.S. Postal Service LLV (Long Life Vehicle) </h3> <p><strong>Make</strong>: Bodies were manufactured by Grumman, chassis by General Motors <br /> <strong>Model</strong>: The GM chassis was based on the S-10 pick-up truck<br /> <strong>Engine size</strong>: The first five years of production have 2.5-liter engines and the last two years have 2.2-liter engines<br /> <strong>Tank size</strong>: About 11 gallons <br /> <strong>Type of fuel</strong>: Unleaded regular <br /> <strong>Miles per gallon</strong>: About 10 <br /> <strong>Refueled</strong>: Typically twice a week <br /> <strong>Miles driven monthly</strong>: An average LLV travels 90 miles weekly, 360 miles a month. <br /> <strong>Note of interest</strong>: At 200,000, the U.S. Postal Service has the largest fleet of civilian vehicles in the country, says Richard Watkins, a spokesman for the Postal Service's Kansas City-based Mid-America District. When the cost of a gallon of gasoline goes up by a penny, it costs the Postal Service an extra million dollars a day, he says. The Lawrence post offices have 77 delivery vehicles.</p>
<h3>Lawrence school district bus</h3> <p><strong>Make and model</strong>: International Bus<br /> <strong>Year</strong>: 2004<br /> <strong>Engine</strong>: T44E<br /> <strong>Tank size</strong>: 60 gallons<br /> <strong>Type of fuel</strong>: Diesel<br /> <strong>Miles per gallon</strong>: 8.19<br /> <strong>Refueled</strong>: It depends on the bus route, but generally every other day.<br /> <strong>Miles driven monthly on average</strong>: 1,100<br /> <strong>Amount of money spent on diesel for one bus in May</strong>: $290<br /> <strong>Note of interest</strong>: The Lawrence school district has 83 bus routes.</p> <p>"The buses carry quite a load on them, but I think we get pretty good mileage out of them," says Bob Osborn, branch manager of Laidlaw in Lawrence. "But there's not much we can do about the price of diesel. We have to pay the price and make the wheel turn. I don't like it, but I don't know what I can do about it."</p>
<h3>Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical Ladder fire truck No. 1, Unit No. 640</h3> <p><strong>Make</strong>: HME<br /> <strong>Model</strong>: 1871<br /> <strong>Year</strong>: 1998<br /> <strong>Description</strong>: 10-wheeler, with ladder to raise firefighters, typically paired with separate pumper truck for water. Burns most fuel idling rather than in motion.<br /> <strong>Engine size</strong>: Detroit Series 60, in-line 6-cylinder, 430 horsepower<br /> <strong>Fuel type</strong>: Diesel<br /> <strong>Tank size</strong>: 60-80 gallons<br /> <strong>Refueled</strong>: Typically when tank hits 35 gallons remaining, to be ready in case of fire emergency.<br /> <strong>Miles per gallon</strong>: Tough to say because of stationary use and depends on emergencies. But in August - as of last Wednesday - 191 miles on 65 gallons, or 2.94 miles per gallon. </p> <p>"That's a heavy truck - a really heavy truck," said Glen Taylor, fleet supervisor for the city of Lawrence. "It does what it's required to do. It's a necessity."</p>
<h3>Electric-powered bike</h3> <p><strong>Make</strong>: WaveCrest<br /> <strong>Model</strong>: TidalForce<br /> <strong>Description</strong>: Resembles a 10-speed bicycle but with electric motor to provide an alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles. Engine mounted in rear wheel hub. Riders can increase motor power to ease work.<br /> <strong>Engine</strong>: 1,000-watt motor<br /> <strong>Fuel type</strong>: Electrically powered by hydride batteries<br /> <strong>Refueled</strong>: Typically takes four hours to charge dead battery<br /> <strong>Miles per gallon</strong>: Can travel 20 miles at 12 mph or 30 miles at 6 mph <br /> <strong>Cost</strong>: About $2,000 to purchase bike, batteries and charging equipment</p> <p>"They are good sellers for people who want alternatives to get to work without having to pay for gas," said Mike Dierker, of Electric Rider, 628 N. Second St.</p>
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