Rutgers is taking an important step to address one of the leading causes of climate change as it moves forward with a plan to purchase 700 electric vehicles to replace its entire gas-powered fleet over the next decade.
The first round of 24 light-duty electric vehicles (EVs) – a mix of Subaru Solterras and Ford Mach-Es – arrived on campus streets in October, said Henry Velez, vice president of Institutional Planning and Operations (IP&O). The next 24 EVs are scheduled to arrive this spring, bringing this year’s total to 48.
“These EV fleet vehicles represent a transformative move forward for Rutgers,” said Velez. “Not only do they enhance our operational efficiency, but they also directly align with our Climate Action Plan, demonstrating our commitment to sustainable practices.”
The EV overhaul is the university’s second major sustainability initiative since President Jonathan Holloway announced Rutgers’ commitment to reducing emissions by 45 percent by 2030 and becoming carbon neutral by 2040. The first, 2023’s solar panel project, installed new solar canopies at 16 locations across the university that generate 14.5 megawatts of power and save the university about $1 million annually.
“We are creating a culture of sustainability at Rutgers,” said Angela Oberg, chief climate officer and senior director of the Office of Climate Action at the university. “That means we embed sustainability into everything we do – including how we operate our fleet vehicles. It is one way to show that this is just how we do business at Rutgers now.”
IP&O plans to identify rounds of older fleet vehicles ready to be phased out each year, recouping their trade-in value and all available EV tax credits to significantly reduce the project’s price tag.
“It’s great to see Rutgers leveraging state and federal government incentives to meet our transportation needs while also reducing our carbon footprint,” said Francine Pfeiffer, senior vice president for Government Relations. “Grant funding from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities helped to propel this investment, and electric vehicle tax credits through the Inflation Reduction Act make these purchases even more cost-effective. It’s a win-win for Rutgers and for our environment.”
While transportation is one of the largest contributors of greenhouse gas emissions globally, the removal of 700 gas-powered vehicles from Rutgers campuses will not drastically reduce the university’s overall carbon footprint, said Oberg.
However, she said the forward-thinking plan positions Rutgers as a leader among its peers and sends a strong message – not just to students, staff, and faculty, but to business leaders, municipalities, and residents – about our collective responsibility to decarbonize the state.
“Rutgers is demonstrating that we can advance our climate action goals in a resource-constrained environment. We don’t have to rely solely on our own capital,” said Oberg. “In reality, 99% of the world is not swimming in cash either and will need to take a similar approach.”
The EV project will also add roughly 100 new charging stations throughout the university during the next 10 years, said William O’Brien, assistant vice president of IP&O. Exactly how many charging stations will be constructed and where they will be located will be determined through ongoing IP&O surveys used to identify travel patterns and pockets of need.
“While the fleet was the catalyst for the charging infrastructure, the overall approach now is supporting both the fleet and the entire Rutgers community,” he said, noting the number of students, staff and faculty commuting in EVs is steadily rising.
“Implementing these changes requires collaboration across departments and stakeholders,” said O’Brien. “From planning vehicle replacements to strategically placing charging stations, every step is being carefully considered to meet the needs of our fleet and the Rutgers community.”
Most of the new charging stations will be similar to the 12 existing EV stations peppered throughout university parking lots. But in some areas where it may be cost-prohibitive to run traditional EV lines, said O’Brien, new portable solar stations called Beam ARCs will be installed.
“The Beam ARC stations are an innovative solution that makes them a practical and forward-thinking addition to our sustainability efforts. They are portable, completely off the grid, powered by the sun and fit in a traditional parking space,” he said.
Rutgers purchased its first two Beam ARC charging stations this fall – one is located at Rutgers-Newark and the other at 33 Knightsbridge. Two additional Beam ARCs are scheduled to arrive this spring and will be placed at New Jersey Medical School and Rutgers-Camden.
Expanding Rutgers’ EV infrastructure has the potential to reduce carbon emissions, not just at Rutgers, but across the state, said Oberg.
“If we want to take responsibility for our Scope 3 emissions (greenhouse gas emissions indirectly tied to a company), that includes commuting,” said Oberg. “We have to make it easier for people to drive EVs to campus.”
This article was originally published by Rutgers Today.