Western Michigan University
IN-2: Innovation 2

WMU has 21 electric vehicle charging stations available for the campus and greater community. In February 2012, our most recent group of 15 grid-tied electric vehicle-charging stations and an adjacent 50kW solar photovoltaic array began operating near the Miller Auditorium parking deck (the second largest auditorium in the state). The project was funded through a $700,000 Department of Energy grant administered by the Clean Energy Coalition, which also offset the cost of five all-electric Ford/Azure Dynamics Transit Connect work vans and a hybrid-hydraulic bucket truck. The strategic positioning of the array, delivering electricity into the WMU power grid, and the charging stations, provides a powerful educational opportunity for passing students and campus visitors. Our five electric work vans are parked at these stations, further demonstrating linkages and opportunities between renewable energy production, energy consumption, and campus transportation.

The solar photovoltaic array (solar panels): -Generate enough energy annually to run about 5.6 average U.S. homes -Generate enough energy each day, on average, to fully charge approximately 11 Chevrolet Volts, 7 Nissan Leafs, or 6 Azure Ford Battery Electric Transit Connects The electric vehicle charging stations: -Operate 24/7 on the ChargePoint network -Are compatible with all electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles -And are free for public use through 2014 Benefits and opportunities of the system: -Encourages the purchase and use of electric vehicles by providing access to charging infrastructure -Supports WMU’s growing electric vehicle fleet -Stores excess nighttime WMU-generated power in vehicle batteries for later use on campus -Offsets an estimated 142,720 pounds of carbon dioxide annually -Supports research and provides real-time data online WMU’s electric vehicle charging capabilities are the new standard for campuses nationwide.