Professional Mentor, Perry Washington and one of his kids next to the Pacific Power sponsored MachE electric Ford Mustang, "Sparky", that has their pictures featured on it. October 09, 2024 Pacific Power Electrifies Friends of the Children A grant from the local utility helps reduce fleet costs by helping Friends - Lane County go electric. At Friends, most of our mentors conduct outings with children in their own vehicles. There are the typical downsides that many of us experience with kids in cars - crevices jammed with goldfish crackers and sticky seats, but also the financial downsides. With children in Oakridge, 21 miles east of Cottage Grove and as far north as Benton County, Friends reimbursed employees for over 35,000 miles last year at the federal reimbursement rate ($.71 per mile), making fuel one of the more expensive items in our budget. That expense was why we were particularly thrilled to announce the acquisition of two new electric vehicles thanks to a generous grant from Pacific Power’s Oregon Clean Fuels Program. With the support, Friends was able to buy two new Ford Mustang Mach-Es from Kendall at a discount. The organization had the cars wrapped too, to promote Pacific Power’s support and promote the organization in all of those far flung locations too. The wrap allowed us to highlight a few of the kids and mentors in our program. It doesn’t hurt the Mache E’s look so good with Pacific Power’s logo. The electric vehicles reduce the organization's fuel costs by about 90%, allowing for more resources to be allocated directly to support youth. Additionally, the Mustang Mach-Es offer a fun and engaging way for children to get around the County, providing them with a sense of pride and excitement. “We are incredibly grateful to Pacific Power for their support,” said Matt Springer, Executive Director of Friends of the Children. “Sure, these new electric vehicles will help us reduce our environmental impact, but they’re also giving us a chance to educate kids about stewardship in style.” The Mustang Mach-Es are equipped with the latest technology, including advanced safety features and a long-range battery. They are expected to serve as reliable and efficient transportation for Friends of the Children’s programs for years to come. This project was made possible with support from the Oregon Clean Fuels Program and Pacific Power. This is an all electric kid carrier. Runs on clean fuel. Introducing stewardship in style.