t the gasoline engine, that vehicle is a full hybrid. On the other hand, if the electric motor only assists the gasoline engine, the car is classified as a mild hybrid vehicle (Hantula 13-25).
Many hybrid electric vehicles capture the energy used in braking the vehicle to generate energy which is stored in batteries for later use. This technique of making and storing electricity is called regenerative braking. As a result, unlike an all-electric vehicle, hybrid vehicles do not need to be plugged in to recharge the battery. Also, because of the extra power the electric motor provides, the gasoline engines in hybrids can be built smaller without compromising the vehicle's performance.
Problem Statement: This University has a sizeable fleet of vehicles. All of them have gasoline or diesel engines. Fuel prices have increased steadily over the next several years, and there is no way to predict how high fuel prices might go in the future light of the increasing demand for diesel fuel and gasoline worldwide. In addition to concerns about fuel prices, the University's fleet's carbon footprint is significant, but the University has publicly stated its committed to remaining proactive on environmental issues.
Purchasing HEVs for the fleet is an opportunity for this University to lead by example. The other alternative is to simply maintain the status quo and continue to purchase vehicles fueled by gasoline or diesel rather than HEVs. According to an essay written by Christopher Amos and published in the journal "Government Fleet", purchases of vehicles and other capital equipment made by Universities and other governmental entities typically involve awarding the contract to the lowest cost bidder.
The question that must be addressed when considering whether to suggest the University add HEVs to its fleet is whether the purchasing process is sophisticated enough to consider the life cycle costs rathe...