Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

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.

Featured

  • Year-Round Schools Require Year-Round Indoor Air Quality Planning

    While many schools are out for the summer, year-round schools follow a more “balanced” schedule with shorter, more frequent breaks spaced throughout the school year. Even though this offers educational benefits, these facilities have less downtime for building maintenance. This can become an issue when facilities managers overlook the importance of routine HVAC maintenance and air duct cleaning services.

  • Johns Hopkins Starts Construction on New Residence Hall, Dining Facility

    The Homewood Campus of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., recently began construction on a new residence hall and dining facility, according to university news. The work involves demolishing the existing Alumni Memorial Residence Hall I, which was built in 1923, to make room for the new facility.

  • St. John Fisher University

    Classroom Revitalization – Basil Hall Room 216

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. St. John Fisher University's Basil Hall Room 216 Classroom Revitalization has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of Spaces.

  • Myrtle Grove Elementary

    Phased Construction Keeps Students on Campus During Rebuild

    When Escambia County School District needed to replace most of Myrtle Grove Elementary School in Pensacola, Fla., it had three distinct challenges: honor the school's legacy in the community, bring state-of-the-art learning environments to the county, and be seamlessly built on the same site as the active school campus.