Town employees could soon be running errands in a new all-electric BMW i3s.

Better known as a status symbol than an eco-friendly ride, the luxury car brand is making inroads into becoming environmentally conscious, and Energy Management Committee members are hoping the town will take advantage of that push through a state grant program.

“It sounded like an excellent opportunity to reduce costs for transportation by Marion’s town employees while also getting some old gas guzzlers off the road,” said committee member Jennifer Francis.

In August, Dartmouth officials leased three new all-electric BMW i3ses after getting quotes from Nissan, Ford and Mercedes.

Dartmouth Administrative Analyst Evan Melillo spent six months researching how to acquire the cars. Leasing seemed to be the best option financially, and BMW car offered the best option environmentally. Should Marion Selectmen approve the committee’s request to pursue the grant, Melillo will guide Energy Management Committee members through the complex application process.

Melillo said the cars have been embraced by town employees in his town, including one used by Dartmouth’s police department.

“They love it,” he said. “They want a second one.”

After learning about Dartmouth’s success, Francis said she contacted Melillo hoping to bring the electric cars to Marion.

Through the Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program, the town could potentially receive reimbursements for each vehicle leased.

According to Melillo, that would amount to an approximate $800 annual cost to lease each vehicle. Melillo said the quote is based on his experience in Dartmouth. The figure includes a federal tax incentive, dealer incentives and a state tax credit.

Without gasoline or maintenance bills, the town could see substantial savings.

Currently, municipal vehicles are Ford Crown Victorias previously used by the police department.

Town Administrator Paul Dawson said the town normally doesn’t purchase cars for municipal use. The municipal cars used by the health, building and a handful of other departments are retired police department cruisers.

“It’s not something we’ve done before. In my nine years here we’ve never bought a car,” Dawson said, adding that more information was needed. “This presents us with an opportunity, but I think we need to look at it.”

Selectmen are weighing the Energy Management Committee’s proposal, which committee members said had the potential to save Marion a significant amount of money.

Member Norm Hills said gas mileage for the Crown Victorias is roughly 15 miles per gallon. He estimated the town could stand to save $1,200 in gasoline costs alone with one of the electric cars.

“It’s a significant difference in the operating costs,” Hills said.

Francis’ estimate was even higher.

“I conservatively estimate that the town would save at least $10,000 by replacing three older gas fueled sedans with three electric vehicles for three years,” Francis said. That figure does not include proceeds from selling the old cars.

In addition to the fiscal benefits, Francis said leasing the cars would raise awareness of environmental issues and promote the use of electric vehicles.

If the cars were leased, two charging stations would be installed in town that would be open to the public when not plugged into town vehicles.

The BMWs are charged with a 240-volt cord connected to the station. Generally, the cars take between three to four hours to fully charge. The cars’ maximum range is 80 miles, slightly less when the weather is cold.

At this early stage, there’s no mechanism for collecting fees from drivers who would use the stations, but that would likely change.

“Making [charging stations] available, however, would help promote the use of electric vehicles and contribute to the common good,” Francis said.

She noted that wind turbines being constructed in Plymouth will soon provide energy for Marion’s municipal needs, making the cars even more environmentally friendly.

Right now, the committee hopes to lease three cars. They requested that Selectmen allocate no more than $2,000. The money would pay Melillo for his time navigating the application process.

Selectmen Chair Stephen Cushing expressed reservations about approving the committee’s request without learning more about the process and other potential costs.

Also, he wanted time for Selectman Jon Henry to review the proposal.

The board will take up the matter again at its Dec. 1 meeting after having reviewed the Energy Management Committee’s proposal.