University of Pittsburgh
OP-15: Campus Fleet

The University of Pittsburgh’s 2018 Pitt Sustainability Plan set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from direct transportation 50% by 2030 (from the institution’s 2017 baseline) AND to reduce Pitt Shuttle fuel usage 3% annually between FY2018 and FY2030.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Pitt’s fleet currently includes 16 electric vehicles:
• 4 Ford E-Transit-350 Cargo vehicles (Pitt Logistics to fulfill deliveries around campus)
• 2 Chevrolet Bolts EUV (Family Medicine & Parking)
• 1 Nissan Leaf (Parking)
• 4 Polaris GEM eL XD (Athletics & Pitt Eats)
• 5 electric bicycles (accounted for under 100 percent electric), including 4 electric bicycles (Pitt Police) and 1 e-cargo bicycle (Business, Hospitality, and Auxiliary Services)

Not only are these electric vehicles essential for University operations, as they move around campus, they are visible progress of Pitt’s efforts to reduce global greenhouse emissions, local air pollutants, and noise levels in the urban Pittsburgh of Oakland where Pitt is located.

To keep up with the expansion of electric fleet vehicles and increased demand for EV charging from Pitt commuters, the University has increased the number of EV charging stations on campus. Pitt currently 80 EV chargers accessible by both fleet and commuter vehicles. The University is actively working on adding more EV chargers, including another 10 to be activated in Spring 2024.

More about Pitt’s electric vehicle charging stations - https://www.pts.pitt.edu/mobility/parking/electric-vehicle-charging

FLEET TRANSITION

In September 2020, the University of Pittsburgh expanded its existing partnership with Enterprise into an agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management to lease only electric and hybrid vehicles for all future Pitt vehicles. As current vehicle leases expire, Pitt and Enterprise are working to replace vehicles with hybrid and electric vehicles. Since 2021, the University has added 2 fully electric fleet vehicles (bringing Pitt’s EV total to 16) and 3 plug-in hybrid fleet vehicles.

The University is working to fully electrify all fleet vehicles over time, which will also help achieve the goal of a 50% reduction in GHG emissions from fleet vehicles by 2030. Additionally, these efforts will continue to raising awareness in the Pitt community about the local and global shift to low carbon vehicles.

Pitt’s Enterprise Fleet partnership announcement - https://www.enterprisemobility.com/content/enterpriseholdings/en_US/news-stories/news-stories-archive/2020/09/enterprise-extends-partnership-with-university-of-pittsburgh-to-support-transportation-need.html

SHUTTLES

Pitt does not own its 24 shuttles (which serve 10 routes), but does track their fuel usage as they provide nearly 400,000 rides annually. The University currently uses 19 propane-powered shuttles, which the University’s shuttle provider began transitioning in July 2020, directly supporting carbon reduction goals and improving local air quality. Pitt’s shuttles feature passenger-counting technology and WiFi, while also providing a 33% reduction in carbon emissions from prior shuttle operations (which were a mix of gasoline and 5% biodiesel-powered vehicles).

Because the University is the sole user of these shuttles and directed their fueling shift, these 19 vehicles are accounted for in the calculation above (under CNG, as there is no propane category).

More about Pitt’s propane shuttles: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/shuttle-propane-switch.

2018-22 Progress Report on Pitt Sustainability Plan, Transportation & Mobility section - https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/progress-report/transportation-mobility-2018-22/