4 Reasons EV Charging Stations on College Campuses Makes Sense
As the pandemic winds down, universities and colleges are opening back up for in-person learning. Meanwhile, electric-vehicle (EV) sales are continuing to rise. Even Subaru and Toyota (among just about every car maker today) are getting in on the EV market, bringing more signs that we’re closing in on the end of the fossil-fuel era. So what does that have to do with your campus?
To make electric vehicles viable, it’s important for their drivers to know they’ll be able to charge their ride. School campuses can play an important role in building EV infrastructure for their communities. Meanwhile, it can also help generate revenue for schools that can be used to fund other school initiatives. Schools can apply for state and federal grants and incentives (EV Connect can help guide you through this entire process) that help offset initial installation costs.
To that end, we’d like to give you four good reasons (aside from just the financial ROI) that installing EV charging stations might be one of the best green initiatives for your campus.
1. Universities and Colleges Aren’t Just Schools — They’re Community Centers
Colleges don’t just close down and go quiet when classes are out. Colleges and universities are major centers of culture within a community. From festivals to meetups, concerts and plays to political events, colleges and universities see more activity than most locations in any given town or city. That wide-ranging use makes them a perfect fit for EV charging stations. Generally, charging stations should be put where they’ll see the most use. College campuses are a great pick, because they aren’t just for students — they’re used by the whole community.
2. It’s Part of a Sustainable Future
Despite some criticism about the sustainability of battery production, EVs are overall much better for the environment. And they’re continuing to improve. Vehicles in 2019, for example, were reported to have one-third the lifetime emissions of earlier EVs, even when you factor in every single part of their life, from manufacturing to refueling. This makes installing charging stations one of the better green ideas for college campuses who want to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability.
Bottom line: electric vehicles need charging stations. As long as people are scared they won’t be able to charge their car, EV sales won’t reach their full potential. As it stands, one study found that 58% of prospective drivers fear running out of power before being able to recharge, and another 49% are scared of the low availability of charging stations. This is affecting the likelihood that they buy a more sustainable vehicle. Vox has even gone so far as to say outright that the best way to get people to buy more EVs is to increase the number of charging stations available. So installing EV charging stations on college campuses ensures you’re doing your part in bringing us all closer to a sustainable future.
3. It Sends a Message
The fact is, universities (and all schools) help set a precedent in the community. They’re places of learning, entities that advocate for arts and sciences and a better world. They look to the future. Prospective students and investors look to universities for exactly that. They’ll want to see green ideas on college campuses if they’re going to invest or attend. By installing EV charging stations, you’re signaling to the world that you know the future is coming — and you’re a part of it.
4. It Can Provide Revenue
While EV Charging Stations are an investment, they’re one with a decent possibility of return on investment. Students and faculty spend hours on campus, and often full days, so it’s an ample opportunity for them to fully charge their cars. While you may decide to offer students a per-semester fee for EV charging (much like you would a parking pass), you can also open chargers up to passersby and visitors and charge them per kilowatt hour or session. They get the benefit of knowing their ride’ll be fully charged when they get out of class, and you get some return on your investment for every student plugged in.
In Conclusion
The reasons to install EV charging stations on college campuses range from the moral to the practical. It can help save the environment, make good use of extra space that’s already accessible by the community, forge partnership opportunities and position your university as forward-thinking. Whatever your reason, the fact remains clear: there’s a lot to gain from installing EV charging stations on your campus. Reach out to EV Connect today if you want to learn more about how we can help.
Sources
Bureau of Transportation Services -Earth Day 2021 Arrives as U.S. Electric Vehicle Sales Continue to Grow
Green Car Reports -Subaru electric SUV to be called Solterra, arrives in 2022
CarbonBrief -Factcheck: How electric vehicles help to tackle climate change
The Drive -Americans Cite Range Anxiety, Cost as Largest Barriers for New EV Purchases: Study
Vox -The fastest way to get more people to buy electric vehicles
Inside Higher Ed -Students Want Online Learning Options Post-Pandemic