Harvard Buys Electric Shuttles
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 02/11/21
Harvard
University has invested in four electric buses,
representing nearly a third of its fleet. The vehicles will replace
four similarly-sized bio-diesel vehicles already operating on campus.
Each of the new buses, from Proterra,
is 35 feet long (similar in size to the current buses), has a seating
capacity of 29 and runs on a 450-kWh battery.
Along with the
buses, the institution has also invested in an 800-volt
infrastructure. The shuttles will be plugged in during off-peak hours
overnight, using 150 kW charging stations that will allow the
vehicles to be "fast-charged" in about three hours.
The fleet transports
about 600,000 students annually across Harvard's campus. The shift to
electric is expected to lower greenhouse gas emissions by more than
110 tons annually. Their use will also reduce the amount of air
pollutants, providing health benefits to the community.
According to the
U.S. Department of Energy, electric motors are exceptionally quiet,
provide stronger acceleration and require less maintenance than
traditional engines because they have fewer moving parts and fluids
to change. Electric vehicles can convert
more than three-quarters (77 percent) of their electric energy into
power at the wheels while typical gas-powered vehicles convert less
than 30 percent.
"We're always
looking for ways to improve the efficiency and sustainability of our
fleet," said John Nolan, managing director for the university's
Transportation
Services. "This is a transformational project
that can have a tremendously positive impact in the community and
significantly move the needle towards a more sustainable future."
"I am thrilled
to see Harvard modeling the pathway to electric bus fleets to improve
public health and address climate change as part of the broader
commitment to be fossil fuel-free by 2050," noted Elsie
Sunderland, professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at
Harvard's Department
of Environmental Health.
"Harvard takes
its responsibility of being a good neighbor seriously," added
David Harris, director of Transit
& Fleet Management. "One of the great things
about this project is that the buses will produce much less noise and
operate far more smoothly as they navigate the densely populated
streets of Cambridge and Allston."
The project was
supported with a grant from the Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Protection and a loan from
the Harvard
Green Revolving Fund.
About the Author
Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.