BRISTOL – Roger Williams University has unveiled the school’s newly converted, eco-friendly, canola oil-powered shuttle bus.

Once a run-of-the-mill Ford F-350 that guzzled diesel fuel, the shuttle now runs on 100 percent canola oil recycled from the university’s Dining Commons.

“To our knowledge, RWU is the only university in Rhode Island – and one of just a handful in the U.S. – to power a passenger vehicle with straight canola oil,” said Scott Yonan, staff co-chair of the university’s student/staff Recycling and Sustainability Committee.

In order to create a greener campus and promote eco-friendly practices, the committee teamed this summer with AltEnergy Oasis consultant Mark Howards to install a conversion kit on the shuttle, which transports students around campus and to local destinations.

The university expects to use about 2,290 fewer gallons of diesel during the current academic year than in previous year because of the conversion. •