Campus News
UC Santa Cruz expands fleet electrification with new EV charging infrastructure
These stations are designated for UC Santa Cruz fleet vehicles 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and available for public charging in the evenings and weekends.
UC Santa Cruz has installed four new direct current (DC) fast-charger ports and eight Level 2 electric vehicle charging ports at the Central Heating Plant on Red Hill Road, marking a significant milestone in the university’s transition to an all-electric fleet.
These stations are designated for UC Santa Cruz fleet vehicles 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and available for public charging in the evenings and weekends.
“This has been a successful collaborative effort between TAPS, the Decarbonization Infrastructure Program, Fleet Services, and the Sustainability Office,” said Dan Henderson, TAPS Executive Director. “This new charging station significantly supports the University’s transition away from fossil fuels, and the addition of rapid charging will greatly improve charging availability and access for all university vehicles.”
This project received financial support from the California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program.
Electrifying the university fleet is a cornerstone of the UC Santa Cruz Decarbonization & Electrification Plan, which outlines a path to eliminating fossil fuels from campus operations. By expanding EV charging capacity, UCSC is positioning departments to shift more vehicles from gasoline or diesel to electric power–dramatically reducing emissions, lowering maintenance and fuel costs, and supporting cleaner air on and around campus.
The Decarbonization & Electrification Plan highlighted that a transition to an electric fleet represents one of the most cost-effective and impactful strategies for reducing campus greenhouse gas emissions. For example, a joint analysis from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Idaho National Laboratory (INL), and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) found that EV owners could save as much as $14,500 in fuel costs over 15 years compared to gasoline vehicles, accounting for actual electricity rates, charging behavior, and real-world operating conditions.
To support this transition, departments interested in using the new charging stations or exploring a shift to electric vehicles can contact fleets@ucsc.edu for more information.
Expanding charging access for the campus community
These efforts are part of a larger push to improve charging access across campus. Additional public charging stations coming online this academic year include:
- UCSC’s Emergency Response Center’s parking lot (105) will host four Level 2 charging ports.
- Hagar Family Student Housing is on track to install eight Level 2 charging ports.
- UCSC’s Carbon Fund awarded UC Santa Cruz’s Scotts Valley Center funds to install a Level 2 dual-port charging station for Fleet vehicles and employees.