Green Machine
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) is taking the concept of a “green” vehicle to a new level, thanks to a gift from Bob King Automotive Group.
Robert L. “Rob” King III, CEO of the automobile dealerships, donated the lease for a Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car to UNCSA’s Advancement Division. The car has a combined city/highway rating of 112 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe), a measure of the average distance traveled per unit of energy consumed. It produces no on-road emissions, and does not require motor oil. Recycled materials are used in the body and interior.
UNCSA plans a social media campaign to name the car.
“It is my pleasure to support UNCSA in any way I can,” King said. “This vehicle will help the staff to promote the school, to communicate its unique mission, and to tell its compelling story.”
King is chair of UNCSA’s Board of Trustees.
The school enlisted a local company to “wrap” the vehicle graphically in honor of the school’s mascot, The Fighting Pickle (aka The Fighting Pickles).
Mark Hough, UNCSA’s Chief Advancement Officer, said the vehicle is both a promotional tool and a practical one.
“We do a lot of traveling around the Triad, building support for the school,” he said. “With the Pickle Car, we can make every mile count, save money on fuel, and reduce our carbon footprint. It’s a win all the way around. “Plus, it’s a blast to drive!”
The pickle wrap was designed by Terri Renigar, brand marketing manager for UNCSA, to reflect the school’s celebrated mascot.
The Fighting Pickle became the School of the Arts’ mascot in 1972 as the result of a campus-wide contest. At that time, the seven-year-old school was planning its first Homecoming celebration, and needed a name for its intramural football team. The origins of the Fighting Pickle have become something of a campus legend.
