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

  • Rhode Island Boarding School Completes Student Dorm Renovations

    St. George’s School in Middletown, R.I., recently announced the completion of a $26-million renovation project on Arden-Diman-Eccles Dormitory, according to a news release. The school partnered with Voith & Mactavish Architects (VMA) on the new space, which places a new focus on collaborative community spaces open to both boarding students and day students.

  • Surging Demand for Student Housing Fuels Major Campus Investment Opportunities

    University leaders throughout the U.S. are accelerating plans to modernize and expand student housing as enrollment stabilizes and demand for on-campus living rebounds. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that total postsecondary enrollment is projected to grow through the end of the decade, with undergraduate enrollment alone expected to increase by more than 8 percent by 2030.

  • College of the Desert Hits Construction Milestone on New Campus

    College of the Desert recently announced that the construction of its new Palm Springs Campus in Palm Springs, Calif., recently reached a major construction milestone, according to a news release. The college is partnering with general contractor C.W. Driver Companies, which recently “topped out” the facility by placing the final beam in its structure.

  • Chartwells Launches Campus Dining Evaluation Framework

    Contract food-service management provider Chartwells Higher Education recently announced the launch of BLUEPRINT, according to a news release. The evaluation framework was designed to provide a data-driven and customizable roadmap towards optimizing campus dining services and, by extension, the student experience.