The University motor pool consists of a number of alternative fuel vehicles including flex-fueled vehicles that can run off of gasoline or ethanol (E-85), a hybrid Toyota Prius, and two hybrid Honda Civics. Many of these vehicles were purchased because of the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992, which mandated that by the start of 2004, at least 75% of the new or replacement light duty cars and trucks purchased by state agencies be alternative-fueled or low-emission vehicles.

In an effort to reduce petroleum consumption, an ethanol fuel pump will be constructed at the Facilities garage in 2008. This 4,000 gallon tank will service the 165 flex-fuel vehicles already in the University fleet. Currently, E10 (gasoline with 10% ethanol) is standard in university pumps.

The small Point-2-Point bus fleet, which serves campus primarily during the evening and late night hours, runs on biodiesel fuel. The incremental cost for the first year of using this B20 (20% biodiesel fuel) in 2005-2006 was absorbed by the student-funded Green Energy Fee. In subsequent years, the cost has been paid by the Department of Public Safety and included in student transit fees. The Robertson bus, which runs every half hour without charge to Duke University, also runs on biodiesel fuel. All diesel vehicles operated by the University are eligible to fill up at the Town of Chapel Hill’s biodiesel pump. A million gallon per year biodiesel refinery operated by Piedmont Biofuels in Chatham County assures a steady supply of this increasingly popular fuel source.