New all-electric shuttle is offered on-campus

Minnesota State has offered different transportation possibilities for their students, including Bird Scooters, free-of-charge-with-MavCard city buses and Maverick Shuttles. Starting this semester, MSU added its first all-electric Maverick Shuttle to the transportation options. 

The Federal Carbon Reduction Program Act contributed $95,000 to purchase a new 12-passenger electrical vehicle (EV). Student Government President Roshit Niraula said they are focused on supporting sustainable efforts all across campus.

“Part of these efforts, as we went into negotiations with the busing contracts with the city, included us having more electric buses that run all across the university zone and even all across town,” said Niraula. “I think the new additional bus will help us test and create a plan on how we can slowly rely more on electric buses that run all across the university area and maybe, in the future, look into implementing them on busses that carry students from Minnesota State University Mankato to the different locations that they want to go all across town.”

The Federal Government, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Mankato Transit System, the University-supported Parking Program and MAPO (Mankato/North Mankato Area Planning Organization) were all partners of the initiative. 

“With any brand new program, there are complications, but, with the help of the Mankato Transit System and the Minnesota Department of Transportation, we got through it,” said David Cowan, the Facilities Services Director.

Niraula said the bus just started its operation. He believes having more electrical buses would be great for sustainability and university students. Niraula said he’s also interested in observing how the bus will perform during the winter.

“It’ll be really interesting to see how the vehicle works, especially during Minnesota winters because it really tends to get snowy up here in the winter weather,” Niraula said. “The way it functions will help us make a plan going into the future and initiate further conversations with the city as we navigate the different bus routes that help support the university and the students.”

“The grant request listed environmental issues like less gasoline use, fewer carbon emissions, etc. For any University, this would be an excellent opportunity to see how battery improvements and other technology advances can be applied to a mass transportation setting in a somewhat controlled venue,” said Cowan. “If all goes well, we will be able to lower the University’s carbon footprint and serve a constructive leadership role in helping others think about such an investment.”
According to Cowan, the all-electric vehicle uses the existing Maverick Daytime Shuttle on-campus route. The vehicle charges for three hours using a Level 2 charger, “which explains why we charge it overnight and drive it during the day,” Cowan said.

Caption: ​​The new all-electric vehicle is added to the transportation options available at Minnesota State University, and contributes to sustainability goals of MSU, (NATHANAEL TILAHUN/The Reporter).

Write to amal.sharafkhodjaeva@mnsu.edu