National Park staff and partners in propane mowers with Park Superintendent Cash driving. Image courtesy of GSMNP.

Over 10 new pieces of alternative fuel equipment has been installed in Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the use of its visitors as part of the park’s Climate Friendly Parks program.

The park installed the following new pieces of equipment to improve air quality in the Smokies:

1. Five gasoline mowers were converted to run on propane autogas. These mowers operate near visitors on a regular basis as they mow diverse areas including roadways and fields in Cades Cove. The park also purchased two additional propane mowers. All of these mowers now run exclusively on propane.

2. Three new, low-speed electric vehicles were purchased for use in park campgrounds. These vehicles emit no pollution at the tailpipe and replaced larger gasoline vehicles, increasing fuel economy from 20 MPG to the over 100 MPGe (equivalent).

3. Two kinds of electric vehicle recharging equipment were installed on either end of Newfound Gap Road in the Smokies. Both 220V “Level 2” charging and 208V “DC Fast Charging” equipment were added at Sugarlands and Oconaluftee Visitor Centers to allow visitors with electric vehicles to enjoy more mobility within the park while creating zero tailpipe emissions. Future park electric vehicles will also be able to utilize this equipment for recharging needs.

“Putting this equipment in use will help us meet our goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions from 2006 levels by 20% by 2020,” said Park Superintendent Cassius Cash at a ribbon cutting ceremony at Sugarlands Visitor Center. “Today celebrates another step closer to achieving that goal.”

The park also installed signs encouraging drivers to reduce carbon emissions by turning off their vehicles when parked at popular destinations such as Sugarlands Visitor Center, Oconaluftee Visitor Center, and Newfound Gap. The signs ask drivers to “Be our idol, Don’t Idle.”

This is a joint effort between Great Smoky Mountains National Park and U.S. Departments of Interior (DOI) and Energy (DOE), the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition and the Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition.