As electric vehicles become an increasingly common sight on Connecticut roads, Southern Connecticut State University is helping meet the growing demand for accessible charging infrastructure by significantly expanding the number of EV charging stations on campus.
Facilities Operations, in coordination with the Office of Sustainability, has installed 18 new electric vehicle charging stations across four campus locations, significantly expanding access to EV infrastructure for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
The new charging stations are located at:
- Lot 9, 144 Farnham Ave. – 4 chargers
- Wintergreen Garage – 6 chargers
- Fitch Street Garage – 4 chargers
- Lot 2, 385 Fitch St. – 4 chargers
The expansion is part of a broader Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) initiative to increase electric vehicle infrastructure across its campuses. Southern secured the largest allocation of charging stations in the CSCU system, helping bring the systemwide total to 108 charging stations while further positioning the university as a leader in campus sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Perhaps most notably, the project was completed without any capital cost to the university. Through a combination of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) grants, federal incentives, and utility funding that covered the purchase and installation of the charging stations, Southern significantly expanded its EV infrastructure without drawing on university operating funds or creating additional costs for Connecticut taxpayers.
“The EV charge stations are an incredibly important step forward for Southern’s sustainability commitment,” said Suzanne Huminski, associate director of sustainability in Southern’s Office of Academic Affairs and Facilities Operations. “Anyone driving an electric vehicle to Southern’s campus, including guests, has easy and convenient access to charging via the phone app.”
The additional charging stations reflect the growing demand for electric vehicle infrastructure as more commuters transition to electric transportation. The stations are available not only to the Southern community but also to members of the public, expanding charging access throughout the New Haven area while supporting cleaner transportation options across the region.
Drivers can access the chargers through the AmpUp mobile app, which displays charger availability, allows users to start charging sessions by scanning a QR code, and processes payment automatically. Charging costs $0.24 per kilowatt-hour, or approximately $1.50 to drive 25 miles—roughly the equivalent of paying $1.50 per gallon of gasoline for a vehicle that averages 25 miles per gallon.
Southern’s Level 2 charging stations provide approximately 25 to 40 miles of driving range per hour, making them well-suited for students, faculty, staff, and visitors who can charge their vehicles while attending classes or working on campus. Charging sessions are limited to 4.5 hours, after which an additional fee encourages turnover and ensures chargers remain available for other users.
Facilities Operations considered both growing demand for EV charging and accessibility when determining where the new stations would be installed. Rather than concentrating the chargers in a single area, the university distributed them across campus to make them convenient for students, faculty, staff, visitors, and members of the public.
“Installing the chargers around campus in an even fashion was an important factor,” said Eric Lessne, associate vice president for Facilities Operations. “We wanted them readily available to everybody.”
Installing the stations required extensive planning and engineering, with each location presenting different considerations related to electrical infrastructure, construction, and potential disruption to campus. Facilities worked through those challenges while keeping the stations as close as possible to the locations originally identified.
Southern’s investment also advances the university’s long-standing commitment to sustainability. By making electric vehicle charging more accessible, the university is helping reduce transportation-related emissions while encouraging the adoption of cleaner technologies among students, employees, visitors, and the broader community.
“Commuter pollution is a large part of Southern’s environmental footprint, and the new chargers make it easier for commuters to help address climate change and other environmental crises,” said Huminski.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, electric vehicles generally cost less per mile to operate than gasoline-powered vehicles and can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly as the nation’s electrical grid continues to incorporate more renewable energy sources. Expanding public charging infrastructure is widely recognized as one of the most important steps in accelerating EV adoption.
The new charging stations also support Southern’s broader sustainability initiatives, which focus on reducing the university’s environmental footprint while creating a campus that prepares students to lead in an increasingly sustainable economy.
“Expanding EV charging infrastructure across our campuses is an important part of CSCU’s commitment to advancing Connecticut’s climate and sustainability goals,” said Keith Epstein, vice president for Facilities, Real Estate and Infrastructure Planning at CSCU. “With support from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Southern Connecticut State University has installed more EV charging stations than any other CSCU institution. As a university located in one of Connecticut’s largest cities, Southern is helping lead the way in supporting sustainable transportation and reducing its carbon footprint. We’re proud to see Southern at the forefront of this work and look forward to continuing to expand green infrastructure across CSCU.”
