Starting this fall visitors to the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey, will have a new way to travel while trying to spot piping plovers or American black ducks.

The Friends of Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge gifted the refuge a new electric bus, complete with a solar panel to provide it with extra juice.

Friends of the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is a non-profit that works to support the refuge.

The bus, which is entirely enclosed and sits 12 passengers, was paid for through an anonymous donation, said Ed Bristow, founder of the group.

Like normal vehicles it has heat and air conditioning, but mounted on the roof is a solar panel.

The small bus does require charging from an outlet, Bristow said. Fully charged the bus can carry a normal load about 50 miles. The solar panel is meant to help it run a little longer, he said. It provides leeway, especially when the charge gets low, he said.

The bus is slow, it has a top speed of only 25 mph, but that is perfect for the refuge, which has a speed limit of 15 mph, Bristow said. The bus is manufactured in Florida by Road Rat motors.

The refuge used to have a jitney that had been a donation. When it was first donated the refuge began to offer the tours, which became popular, Bristow said. When the jitney began to have mechanical problems, the friends group wanted to replace it to keep the tours going, but wanted to investigate an option using alternative fuel sources. The refuge is conscientious about air quality and providing people a chance to view wildlife in a way that doesn’t produce emissions will help the wildlife and habitat, Bristow said.

The tours, which will begin in the fall, are free, but donations are request to help support the upkeep of the vehicle. The tour covers the 8.5 miles of a scenic wildlife drive and will take about two hours.

The tour provides a chance to learn about the refuge from an interpretive guide, who will talk about the wildlife, birds and history. It’s a chance to really experience the refuge, Bristow said.

The refuge protects more than 47,000 acres of southern New Jersey’s coastal habitats and managed for migratory birds. It’s located in one of the Atlantic Flyway’s most active flight path.

Tours will be taken on a reservation basis. To reserve a spot on the tour, call the visitor’s center.