The Temuka Community Vehicle Trust has purchased a new vehicle for $49,000.
Spokesman Charles Scarsbrook said it was a hybrid, which they had selected for fuel economy.
He said the community vehicle did 15000-2000km per month.
From 80 to 100 passengers, the petrol bill came to roughly $500 to $600 a month.
He said with the purchase of a more fuel efficient car, that bill could be halved.
He said it would mean the trust ‘‘won’t have to put prices up’’.
It cost $5 for a trip around Temuka, and $20 to Timaru and back (even if that meant the driver had to come back in later to collect them).
The organisation received a $10,000 grant a year from Environment Canterbury, which they had saved up — along with some donations — for the purchase.
He said with the funds building over time, future money could go towards building the vehicle its own lock up.
He said the trust was very fortunate to have local businesses helping them out, which meant tyres and WOFs were free of charge.
The trust required 250 volunteer hours a month, which included call takers and drivers.
