We are demonstrating how to provide sustainable relief with very little money. To date, we have paid for the bus $2000, License, registration and insurance
$1000, New batteries $500, fuel conversion to WVO =$8,000. Since we converted the bus to run on waist vegetable oil our fuel cost have dropped by over 95%.
We are demonstrating how to provide sustainable relief with very little money. To date, we have paid for the bus $2000, License, registration and insurance
$1000, New batteries $500, fuel conversion to WVO =$8,000.
Total = $11,500 For a 40 foot long disaster relief vehicle with 46,000 lBS capacity that runs on used cooking oil.
What does that mean to a non profit doing disaster relief?
Since we converted the bus to run on waist vegetable oil our fuel cost have dropped by over 95%.
Thats right. It now costs us about $5.00 to get our engine and WVO tanks to temperature. After that, we are running on donated WVO. Our range is 2500 miles. At 10 miles to the gallon and with 250 gallons of WVO onboard reduces the cost 5.00 every ten miles. a savings of $1250 every 3000 miles.
Our Hurricane Sandy response for Team Rubicon was to drive from Detroit to chicago 280 miles, pick up the region V Team Rubicon crew and supplies then drive from Chicago to New York 818.9. A total of 1100 miles. That trip cost in fuel $1100 round trip. it would have cost $10 to start the engine and get it to temp.
We plan on driving 40,000 miles a year. with diesel prices ranging between 4.50 and 5.50 per gallon we will save $20,000 in fuel costs. Our entire investment will be paid back in fuel saving within six months.
Now that is sustainable.
But demonstrating shoestring sustainability does have a price.
We used volunteer labor to do a repairs on the starter motors that cost us dearly.
The electrical fire has cost =$1250 for towing. =$1200 hotel. transportation for the crew and related costs for getting the bus looked at.
Now, we need to repair the bus and prepare for long term service. We are going to move Large Marge in the morning to The Virginia Truck Center where we will pay for a professional repair and preform safety inspections and service the bus so that we can rely on her for the upcoming hurricane season.
We have 13 days left to raise the 25K on indiegogo to pay for the towing, repairs from the starter motor and electrical fire, tires, maintenance and regular servicing for Large Marge So far, we have $750 dollars committed on the site. Please help if you can. If your as broke as the crew on the bus, at the very least share this link with your friends on Facebook. http://www.indiegogo.com/...