In order to keep the various functions of the University up and running, JMU owns and operates more than 500 motor vehicles. These are used by our committed employees working in several areas: landscaping, housekeeping, integrated waste management, engineering & construction, and various shops such as HVAC, electric, plumbing, etc. JMU is actively adding more fully-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to its fleet when new vehicles need to be purchased due to aging assets being retired.

The switch to electric vehicles is advantageous in a number of ways. EVs do not produce tailpipe emissions during operation, leading to better air quality on campus where thousands of students, employees, and members of the public walk around when campus is open. While EVs are currently charged using the grid, it is possible to charge them in the future using stored energy generated onsite from sources like solar and wind. Due to the Virginia Clean Economy Act of 2020, the electricity grid in Virginia is required to produce electricity from 100% renewable sources by 2050. As the grid becomes greener, the charging of our electric vehicles at JMU will cause fewer and fewer emissions.

While the majority of the fleet uses gasoline, over 20% of the vehicles are alternatively-fueled.