Due to the popularity of the University of Georgia’s first electric vehicle charger and recent grant funding by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority, UGA Parking Services has expanded charging locations to include the South Campus and East Campus parking decks. 

Service at the stations began Jan. 15. The chargers are located near the Lumpkin Street entrance in the South Campus parking deck and the main entrance in the East Campus parking deck. 

UGA’s first electric vehicle charger—located in the North Campus parking deck—has been used 390 times since it opened for service in May 2014. Over the fall and summer semesters, “we saw an average of 46 sessions per month at the one charger,” said Don Walter, manager of Parking Services. “This has resulted in a total of 1,712 kilograms of greenhouse gas savings since installation. The one charger also has resulted in 511.63 gallons of gasoline saved.”

The new installations bring the total number of electric vehicle charger parking spots on campus to six—each level 2 charger has two plugs and corresponding parking spots. 

The chargers can fully power a vehicle in two hours. Rates start at $0.75 per hour for the first two hours and then increase to $1.50 per hour. 

Location was a significant factor in choosing the new parking spots. Walter notes that in addition to supporting a greater area of campus, Parking Services selected the South Campus parking deck to provide greater service for guests visiting the Georgia Center for Continuing Education and the East Campus parking deck to allow Ramsey Center users to power their vehicles while working out.

“We are happy to see that there is a growing demand for the EV chargers on campus, which allows us to expand the service,” Walter said. “We hope the program continues to gain popularity and growth.”