Asumag 896 03energy
Asumag 896 03energy
Asumag 896 03energy
Asumag 896 03energy
Asumag 896 03energy

Current events

May 1, 2014
Many campuses have already taken steps to educate their communities about electric vehicles, convert gasoline-powered automobiles to electric and, in some cases, install charging stations on their campuses.

American colleges and universities have historically been hotbeds for thought leadership — and when it comes to electric vehicles (EV), they are proving to be at the cutting edge of adoption and practice. To date, many campuses have already taken steps to educate their communities about EVs, convert gasoline-powered automobiles to electric and, in some cases, install charging stations on their campuses.

It makes sense for a number of reasons. A campus is a microcosm of a city. It provides strong use data without sky-high implementation costs. A campus is populated with potential consumers interested in saving money, but also consumers with an ideological interest in EVs. Studies show that students are far more concerned about issues such as the United States’ dependence on foreign oil, the impact of emissions from conventional cars, and the importance of a green economy.

As EV technology matures, infrastructure improves. As an increasing number of automakers have entered the market, EVs have become more affordable and attractive to consumers. With President Obama and the federal government committed to getting a million low and no-emission vehicles on the road by 2015, EVs are more popular than ever before.

A number of campuses across the country have become early EV adopters, providing charging amenities for employees, students, and visitors. Drivers usually “charge up” overnight at home, but will expect to be able to “top off” while at work or school.

The Role of Campuses

Academic institutions are poised to play several key roles in EV education and adoption due to the vast demographic they serve, the array of educational programs they offer, and their accessibility to the public. Universities and colleges can play several roles in helping EVs gain a foothold in the market, which include: Providing community education. Communities rely upon their academic institutions to serve as an unbiased and educational source, especially on evolving green technologies. Colleges and universities can play a vital role in community education and outreach by allowing members of the public to interact with EVs, pioneering charging station installations, and providing information on the benefits of EVs.

Offering courses and training to support an electric vehicle workforce. Academic institutions can identify the skills and training needed to support an EV workforce and provide the necessary training.

Expanding the network of charging stations. Currently, a primary barrier to widespread adoption of EVs is the vehicles’ limited range, as well as the local availability of charging stations. Research shows that most student and employee commutes to colleges are within the range of current EV batteries, but in some cases, charging stations would need to be available at the colleges to complete the round-trip. By installing a charging station, academic institutions can participate in building a network of public charging stations.

The purchase or lease of EVs for campus fleets can reduce a college’s carbon footprint — particularly if the college purchases electricity from renewable sources — and will also decrease fuel and maintenance costs.

Charging Station Challenge

For EVs to achieve market penetration, consumers need assurance that they will be able to drive their EV without “range anxiety,” the fear of depleting the battery and becoming stranded. The proximity of many campuses to major interstate systems, as well as their role as community centers, makes them logical locations for public charging stations. Additionally, a campus network of charging stations would enable the colleges to move toward purchasing EVs to travel to and from other colleges for intercollegiate events, and would serve as a valuable educational resource for community members and students.

Electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) manufacturers offer numerous charging station configurations and designs. A few basic factors to consider when selecting a charging station include whether the station will be indoors (garage) or outdoors (parking lot) and the desired recharge time. Outdoor equipment must be weatherproof, whereas an installation in a residential or public garage might have less stringent requirements.

Charging stations are rated as Level I, Level II, or Level III. The higher the level, the more rapidly the vehicle will recharge. The recharge time is a direct function of the voltage available at the installation site. More power means a quicker recharge, but necessitates more investment in the electric components of the charging station and connection to the electrical service. Level II charging stations are currently most applicable to campuses. For example, the charging units installed by ABM at the University of California, Riverside as part of the College of Engineering – Center for Environmental Research and Technology’s (CE-CERT) “New Grid” project have Level I and Level II charging capability. As implied by the variance in pricing, charging systems range from simple to sophisticated, with many configurations and features. Similarly, installation costs can vary widely due to the site modifications, electrical upgrades and rewiring needed.

Colleges must also be conscious as to whether their existing electrical infrastructure can handle the increased electrical load brought on by EVSE. The increased electrical draw could overload many current campus electrical systems, as well as significantly raise the cost of electricity. If the property was built prior to the 1980s, its electrical infrastructure might be outdated and unable to handle the new load without a retrofit. This could add greatly to the cost and scale, and negatively impact the EVSE decision.

One of the most popular and cost-effective solutions to this problem is to reduce the overall electricity load of the facility before EVSE installation through lighting upgrades, lighting controls and high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment.

Lighting often represents the lion’s share of a facility’s energy consumption – up to 39%. Older facilities especially have outdated fluorescent light fixtures and magnetic ballasts that house inefficient T12 or high-pressure sodium lamps. Typically operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, this outdated lighting scenario can drain the grid as well as inflate energy costs.

Campus EV Installs 101

The EVSE market is rapidly evolving and faces challenges. Even so, university EVSE projects are easier to justify than in previous years. To reduce confusion and potential risks, it is best to work with an EVSE installation expert who can not only provide EVSE advice but also innovative ways for reducing your electrical load. Look for a full service vendor with a proven track record of installations to help:

  • Evaluate EV infrastructure needs, and energy saving opportunities
  • Find budget through flexible financing options, rebates, local state and federal incentives
  • Determine requirements and provide the right equipment
  • Install, service and maintain the EVSE equipment
  • Design, install and maintain high efficiency ECMs (Energy Conservation Measures)

Next Steps

Academic institutions play a vital role in advancing EV technology throughout the nation. Some colleges and universities might even consider a “bulk purchase” of EV charging stations with other interested colleges in their area to take advantage of available state rebates.

A first step might be to conduct a survey to gauge interest in a potential facilitated purchase and to determine if colleges would be willing to make up the cost differential for equipment and installation. Of course, in tandem with installing charging stations, colleges should continue to increase the percentage of renewable energy they purchase in order to realize the environmental benefits from EVs.

SAPP is vice president of the energy solutions division of ABM, a leading provider of facilities engineering, commercial cleaning, HVAC, electrical, landscaping, parking and security solutions.

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