Boston University is helping shape a more electrified, lower-emission future by integrating sustainable transportation into campus operations and everyday community life. Based in Massachusetts, BU is advancing electric mobility through expanded EV charging access, fleet electrification, and smart transportation initiatives—making it easier for students, faculty, staff, and visitors to choose cleaner options.
A major piece of BU’s work is focused on building the infrastructure needed to support EV adoption at scale. The university currently offers 40 ChargePoint EV charging ports across its campuses, located in multiple garages on the Charles River Campus and the Medical Campus. This growing network helps normalize EV use in a dense urban environment and ensures that EV drivers can reliably charge where they live, work, and learn.
BU is also taking direct steps to reduce emissions through campus operations by transitioning its internal fleet toward electric vehicles. The university has launched a fleet electrification effort that prioritizes electric options as departments request replacement vehicles. BU has reported having 12 electric vehicles in its fleet, including operational vehicles such as cargo vans and department-use cars.
Beyond vehicles themselves, BU is working to improve the daily transportation footprint of campus services. For example, university staff have increasingly used electric bicycles for tasks that previously relied on gas-powered vehicles—showing that electrification isn’t only about cars, but about smarter modes of movement across an active campus environment.
BU’s approach is also rooted in encouraging behavior change and visibility, including policies and programs that reward EV drivers and support practical adoption. The university manages EV charging through clear usage policies and structured systems to support equitable access across its network.
As a proud participant in Recharge America, Boston University demonstrates how higher education institutions can be powerful leaders in the electrification transition—supporting workforce learning, normalizing EV adoption, and investing in infrastructure that benefits both campus communities and the region’s broader carbon reduction goals.