Huskers are fueling their drives with University Fleet Management’s Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles, and for just $5 per day, those on official university business have the opportunity to experience electric-powered life on the open road.

Through the end of February, University Fleet Management is offering this highly-discounted rate to university departments to give new and seasoned electric vehicle drivers the chance to utilize the newly-acquired Chevy Bolts. Interested individuals and departments can reserve their vehicle by submitting a vehicle Rental Request.

University Fleet Management acquired two 2022 Chevrolet Bolts for university rental use last fall. Fleet Management would like to see increased utilization of the vehicles, which prompted this limited-time promotional discount. The cost of electric charging is included in the $5 dollar per day price. In order to ensure many people across campus have the chance to try the vehicles, rentals are limited to a maximum of three days.

The Bolts join a growing slate of electric vehicles across campus, including those utilized by parking services to monitor parking permits and regulations. The university first tested electric vehicles a few years ago when they placed two Mitsubishi IMiEV hatchbacks with limited success at courier services. They remarketed the IMiEVs when courier services became unnecessary, and switched to procuring Chevrolet Bolts in 2021. The first Bolts were placed at parking services. The parking services fleet grew from two to four with the implementation of their license plate recognition system. The University Police Department also utilizes an electric vehicle, as does the Utility Plant. Another electric vehicle will be brought to the Utility Plant on March 1.

Electric vehicles pose many benefits to the university and surrounding communities. They support environmental resilience by using clean energy, contributing to the goals outlined in the Environment, Sustainability and Resilience Master Plan. The electric vehicles also have a lower fuel cost. On average, the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt’s electric charging costs are cheaper than paying for gasoline for a regular car.

“The university wants to go green if we can,” said Patrick Barrett, director of University Fleet Management. “We’re wanting to go green, we want to be efficient, and we’ll continue acquiring vehicles, especially as technology improves and ranges increase.”

With a full charge, the published range for the Bolt is 250 miles, but experience has shown when traveling at interstate speeds the range is closer to 150 miles. Fleet Management assigned each Bolt a designated Level II charger, which provides a full charge in approximately 4 hours.

If travels are outside the EVs range, Fleet Management offers a wide variety of other conventionally-powered vehicles to meet university business surface travel needs.