The Energy Management Committee has received approval from Marion Selectmen to seek grants for four electric cars, one more than was originally OK'd.

The town has received one grant-funded electric car, a Nissan Leaf, that was received in March and is being used by the Recreation Department. Two of the three additional cars would replace the vehicles currently being used by the Board of Health and Department of Public Works. The Council on Aging would use the third car.

Two additional charging stations would also be purchased using grant funds. As was the case for the first charging station, residents with electric vehicles would also be welcome to use them.

The town was awarded $15,000 for the first car using the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s Electric Vehicle Incentive Program grant.

The idea came from the Energy Management Committee after seeing Dartmouth’s success with the program.

Ultimately, having electric vehicles saves the town tax dollars and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by about four tons of carbon per car, per year, according to the Energy Management Committee.

The committee would like to see the initiative raise awareness about climate change and for the charging stations to encourage residents to use electric vehicles.