In the photo (left to right): Major Brad Barber, Sergeant Chad Holway, Vice President Curtis Reynolds, and Lt. Jake Pruitt

Business Affairs has switched gears and gone electric! Units across Business Affairs have evaluated their fleets and made the switch to electric vehicles. With the rise of carbon pollution threatening the planet, changing to EV is instrumental towards environmental health.

Carbon emissions through personal vehicles are a leading cause of global warming. Increased global temperatures, rising sea levels, and extreme weather are just some of the consequences.

Hannah Ulloa from the Office of Sustainability states, “Electric vehicles (EVs) are considered a low-carbon mode of transportation and can be an effective way to reduce personal and institutional carbon emissions when replacing conventional vehicles (1 electric vehicle = a conventional vehicle with 110 mpg fuel economy).”

Clean transportation through EV is the future, and UF is just getting started.

There are currently 115 electric/hybrid vehicles at UF. According to Dustin Stephany, Sustainable Building Coordinator, electric vehicles have been doing an excellent job at meeting the needs of the Planning, Design, and Construction Department (PDC). After two and a half years of implementing these vehicles, the results have been incredibly positive. EVs have many unique benefits that gas vehicles do not offer.

Visually, it is apparent that the vehicles are more compact, making traveling and storage of the cars more efficient across campus. Their smaller size is perfect for two people and transporting equipment without harmful carbon emissions.

The driving experience of electric vehicles is also incredibly positive. Stephany states that the cars are “responsive, quiet, and don’t give off emissions, allowing us to be more alert to our surrounding environment.”

Finally, the vehicles are cost-effective and low maintenance. Without the dependence on fossil fuels, the school can save money while being more environmentally friendly. The electricity cost equivalent is much lower than gas. Additionally, the cars have many luxurious features, like Bluetooth, keyless entry, and air conditioning, that we have become accustomed to in gas powered vehicles.

This innovative and sustainable approach to transportation is driving the University of Florida towards a better more sustainably conscience future. It is expected that more campus units and divisions will follow close behind Business Affairs in incorporating more electric vehicles. The shift towards EVs marks the beginning of something much greater for the gator community.