Clemson unveils electric vehicle charging station, car-sharing program

CLEMSON, SC – March 7, 2012 – The gentle whir of an electric motor — in a Chevy Volt, to beprecise — marked the start of a new era for Clemson University onWednesday.

A single ceremony unveiled two new additions to thecampus: Clemson’s first electric vehicle charging station and a newcar-sharing program for students, faculty and staff.

Both are a step toward helping Clemson alleviate parking problems, traffic congestion and carbon emissions.

We’reentering a new era of transportation, locally and globally, said DanHofmann, Clemson’s director of parking and transportation services. Weneed to better utilize our resources, and alternative transportation is akey part of that.

The car-sharing program, called WeCar, is amembership-based, automated car rental program that allows Clemsonstudents, faculty and staff to rent vehicles by the hour. Offered byEnterprise Rent-A-Car, it provides an alternative to privately ownedcars and the traffic and parking challenges they pose.

“WeCarprovides students at Clemson University with a low-cost, convenienttransportation solution located right on the campus,” said Ryan Johnson,assistant vice president, WeCar and Rideshare for Enterprise. “Ourcar-sharing program is a sustainable, totally automated and efficientmobility option that can help alleviate parking and transportationchallenges.

Members reserve a vehicle online, then access thevehicle using a membership card and return it to the same location. Fueland basic liability protection are included in the plan.

Ratesto use a car range from $7.50 to $8.50 per hour, $57 per day and $35 forovernight use. The first 200 miles of any rental are free, with a feeof 20 cents per mile for additional miles.

A fleet offuel-efficient WeCar vehicles is maintained at buildings across thecampus: the Volt at the Hendrix Student Center, a Toyota Prius at FikeRecreation Center, a Ford Fiesta near Sirrine Hall and a VolkswagenJetta is at Sikes Hall.

WeCar not only serves to reduce vehicleson campus, but the vehicles we selected for the program also supportsustainability in that they are all low-emission, fuel-efficientvehicles, said Vice President for Student Affairs Gail DiSabatino. Itsupports our sustainability goals and provides Clemson students, facultyand staff with the convenience of a cost-effective, responsible andeco-friendly way to get around, whether to run errands, travel tomeetings or to take a road trip.

Since the program was firstmade available last month, more than 100 people have joined the WeCarprogram at Clemson, Hofmann said. Clemson is the first university in thestate to offer the program; a similar program is in place at DukeUniversity and more than 40 other campuses from Massachusetts to Oregon.

Whenthe electric vehicle charging station at the Hendrix Center isn’tcharging the WeCar Volt, it will be available without charge forprivately owned electric vehicles, Hofmann said. Use of the chargingstation will help officials decide when new stations will be needed.

Theelectric vehicle charging station and the WeCar program are continuingsteps to improve traffic flow and parking at Clemson, in part byreducing the number of cars on campus by offering more options tostudents, faculty and staff.

Hofmann introduced Zimride, anonline ride-matching service that allows students, faculty and staff tocoordinate carpools to and from campus, earlier this semester. Alsounder study is increasing the number of parking spaces for carpoolvehicles and offering preferred parking spaces to both carpoolers anddrivers with low-emission vehicles.

I see a lot of potential forClemson to be a model for other academic institutions when it comes toparking and transportation issues, Hofmann said. Today is another stepin that direction.