News 2020: UMass Dartmouth joins national electric vehicle purchasing collaborative

The University is a member of the first-ever group of higher education institutions to join the sustainability commitment

Today, UMass Dartmouth announced a partnership with the Climate Mayors Electric Vehicle Purchasing Collaborative and has committed to purchase 2 electric vehicles (EVs) by 2021. In doing so, the University joins nearly a dozen universities and colleges and 225 fleets around the country pledging to purchase almost 3,800 EVs. The entirety of the electric vehicle fleet commitments made through the Collaborative will save nearly 28 million tons of CO2 emissions annually, avoid 1.7 million gallons of gas per year, and represent a total of $123.5 million investment in EVs.

UMass Dartmouth’s partnership with the Collaborative demonstrates the University’s dedication to cut greenhouse gas emissions, improve inequitable public health outcomes directly linked to proximity to poor air quality, and reduce the nation’s dependence on oil through transportation electrification.

“UMass Dartmouth is excited to be a part of the EV Purchasing Collaborative,” said William Mitchell, Jr., Assistant Director of Campus Services at UMass Dartmouth. “Our university is committed to our sustainability goals and EVs are an important part of the future. We encourage fellow schools to join us on the path to electrification.”

“Universities and colleges help develop the future leaders of tomorrow. They are always at the forefront of creating ambitious climate and sustainability goals; it only makes sense that they become a part of the Collaborative and the transportation electrification future,” said Ben Prochazka, National Director of the Electrification Coalition.

Launched in September 2018, the Collaborative is a partnership between Climate Mayors, the Electrification Coalition, and Sourcewell. In committing to purchase electric vehicles as a part of the Collaborative, public agencies, colleges, and universities gain access to competitively solicited EVs and charging infrastructure, as well as innovative leasing options that allow fleets to reduce EV costs by accessing federal tax credits. The Collaborative also provides support with technical analysis and best practices for fleet electrification as fleets consider switching to electric.