Nine electric vehicles now provide transit service to the Tulane University community, as of September 2023. The addition of these electric vehicles to the Tulane Shuttles and Transportation fleet is part of a grant-funded program in collaboration with the Tulane Office of Sustainability. The university's transition to electric vehicles will help the university achieve its climate action goals and reduce air pollution.
The electric shuttles program is supported by a research grant from the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Vehicles Technology Office received in 2020. The grant awarded the university $737,500 in matching funds to purchase electric vehicles and install corresponding charging infrastructure. To meet the research component of the grant, the project team will test expectations that the electric vehicles are less expensive to operate and maintain than their conventional counterparts and document lessons from transitioning the fleet to share with the EERE and regional fleet managers.
The electric shuttles are expected to provide over 260,000 rides annually to the Tulane community.
What Riders Need to Know
The new electric shuttles are Ford e-Transit models with extended cab height and 11 seats including the driver. Each vehicle is equipped with an accessible wheelchair lift that operates through the rear doors.
The electric shuttles will be incorporated into all shuttles and transportation services. During peak demand service times and events, larger vehicles and additional vehicles may be deployed out of necessity to meet ridership needs.
Our Community Partners
Tulane’s Shuttles and Transportation, the ByWater Institute, and the Office of Sustainability partnered with Entergy, Model 1 (formerly Alliance Bus Group/Creative Bus Sales), and the Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuel Partnership to develop the grant proposal that supports the electric vehicle fleet. Entergy and the SLCFP each offer resources to assist in operating the electric vehicles at Tulane.
Entergy’s eMobility team assists customers pursuing transition to electric technologies with technical support and incentives. For more information, go to: emobility.entergy.com
The Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuels Partnership assists fleets in transitions to more efficient technologies and cleaner fuels. For more information, go to: cleanfuelpartnership.weebly.com
Please also read the Tulane Today article featuring our EV program: "Tulane debuts new 100% electric shuttles to reduce carbon footprint."
