Did You Know?

As universities across the country accelerate their climate action efforts, the intersection of infrastructure, policy, and student innovation has never been more critical. At the University of California, Riverside, this intersection is becoming increasingly visible through investments in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, campus-wide sustainability initiatives, and student-led programs like UCR EcoCAR.

To better understand how these efforts come together, the EcoCAR UCR Communications Manager Semaria Kebede sat down with Francis Mitalo, Sustainability Program Specialist in UCR’s Office of Sustainability, to explore the university’s long-term vision for sustainable transportation.

Sustainability as a Strategic Priority at UCR

At the heart of UCR’s sustainability efforts is its 2030 Strategic Plan, which positions sustainability and climate action as a core institutional pillar. According to Francis, this plan goes beyond infrastructure upgrades; it represents a comprehensive shift on how the university approaches environmental responsibility.

“One of the key goals is moving from our current AASHE STARS Gold rating to Platinum by 2030,” Francis explained. “That requires improvements across academics, engagement, operations, planning & administration, and innovation & leadership categories.“

The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), managed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, evaluates universities on metrics ranging from emissions to commuting behavior. At UCR, transportation plays a significant role in this evaluation, including how students, faculty, and staff travel to campus.

This includes everything from single-occupancy vehicles to biking, public transit, and even air travel, highlighting the complexity of reducing emissions at a large, commuter-heavy campus.

UCR currently maintains over a hundred EV charging ports, with additional infrastructure planned for expansion. But determining whether this is “enough” is a more elaborate process.

“There’s an EV charging infrastructure forecasting tool used across the UC system that helps estimate future EV demand,” Francis said. “It gives us a sense of where we need to be in the next five years.”

However, infrastructure planning goes beyond projections. It also depends on real-world factors like:

• Utilization rates (are chargers being used efficiently?)
• Charging behavior (how long vehicles stay plugged in)
• Campus fleet needs (overnight charging for university vehicles)

One innovative approach at UCR allows campus fleet vehicles to use chargers overnight, maximizing infrastructure efficiency when demand from students and staff is low. Another innovation is providing different levels of charging (i.e., level 1, level 2, and level 3) for its students, staff, and faculty.

EcoCAR UCR: Bridging Research and Real-World Impact

Within this broader ecosystem, UCR EcoCAR plays a unique and powerful role. As a student-led program focused on advanced vehicle technologies, EcoCAR contributes directly to the university’s sustainability mission through hands-on innovation.

“I think EcoCAR is a very cool project,” Francis shared. “It supports our policies on sustainable transportation and gives us insight into real-time research happening on campus.”

With over 50 active students working across engineering and non-technical disciplines, UCR EcoCAR represents an immersive living laboratory, where ideas about vehicle electrification, automation, and energy efficiency are tested and refined.

Beyond research, the program also strengthens UCR’s position in securing partnerships and funding.

“When you can say you’re not just talking about EVs but actually building and testing them, that creates opportunities,” Francis added.

While funding is often seen as the biggest barrier, Francis emphasized that the real challenges are more complex.

One of the most critical questions is electricity capacity.

“If half the campus switched to EVs tomorrow, could we support that level of charging demand?” he asked.

Additional challenges include:

• Grid capacity constraints with local utilities
• User behavior, such as charger availability and scheduling
• Range anxiety, where drivers worry about running out of charge
• Policy uncertainty, including evolving regulations like California’s clean vehicle mandates

These factors highlight that transitioning to EVs is not just a technological shift; it’s a systems-level transformation involving infrastructure, behavior, and policy.

While EVs are a key focus, UCR’s sustainability strategy takes a broader approach to transportation.

“It’s important for students to understand all their options,” Francis noted. “That includes buses, trains, biking, carsharing, and even walking.”

Programs that provide free or subsidized transit access, combined with investments in micromobility (like scooters and bike lanes), help reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicles, which currently account for a significant portion of campus emissions.

This holistic approach is especially important in regions like Southern California, where urban sprawl and car dependency present unique challenges.

A Shared Mission: Collaboration Across Campus

One of the most important takeaways from the conversation is that sustainability at UCR is not driven by a single department; it’s a collaborative effort.

“The Office of Sustainability, Transportation Services, and programs like EcoCAR, we’re all aligned,” Francis said. “We’re working toward the same goal.”

Looking ahead, he emphasized the importance of stronger collaboration between EcoCAR and campus stakeholders:

• Sharing research insights
• Participating in campus engagement initiatives
• Contributing to sustainability reporting and strategy

“We want to be part of each other’s success stories,” he added.

As UCR continues its journey toward a more sustainable future, the integration of infrastructure, policy, and student innovation will be critical.

From expanding EV charging networks to empowering students through programs like UCR EcoCAR, the university is building a foundation for long-term impact.

For readers and students alike, Francis leaves a clear message:

Sustainable transportation is not just about vehicles; it’s about systems, choices, and collaboration.

And at UCR, that future is already in motion.

Interested in being part of the future of mobility? Want to learn more or get involved with UCR EcoCAR? Follow UCR EcoCAR on Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit our Linktree to explore opportunities, open roles, and behind-the-scenes updates from Year 4.