Client Profile

Portland State University Partners With SWTCH to Meet Growing Demand for EV Charging

12/04/2024

With more students, staff, and visitors choosing to drive electric, Portland State University (PSU) realized it would need to enhance its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to meet growing demand. The challenge? Scaling its charging network in a way that also creates a strong foundation for additional enhancements down the road.

By partnering with SWTCH, PSU found a solution that would help it do just that, providing reliable and convenient charging services to EV drivers today while helping prepare the campus for the all-electric future that is soon to arrive.

A sustainability and EV charging leader

PSU’s history of involvement with EV charging began well before electric vehicles became mainstream. Driven by a commitment to sustainability and a desire to be a force for innovation in the space, the university launched a pilot project several years ago in partnership with the City of Portland and Portland General Electric. Called “Electric Avenue,” the project transformed a section of public street adjacent to the campus into an outdoor laboratory where EV chargers from various manufacturers were tested. The project proved popular, and provided valuable lessons for the university while positioning PSU as a regional leader in electric mobility.

“That was our first foray into electric vehicle charging, and it really started the momentum for us to then take those lessons learned along with the city and start to roll those into how we want to encourage and accommodate electric vehicles on campus,” said Ian Stude, Director of Transportation at PSU.

The Electric Avenue project ended after the chargers reached end-of-life. To meet the needs of the EV drivers, PSU has installed EV chargers across campus through partnerships with a number of vendors. However, as electric vehicles became more popular, PSU needed to ensure its main parking structure would be able to accommodate EV drivers with new charging stations that were reliable and intuitive to use.

A Growing Need for EV Charging on Campus

PSU’s parking structures serve a diverse and ever-changing user base. From students and faculty to visiting residents and attendees of major events at the Viking Pavilion, the university’s largest garage sees a wide variety of vehicles pass through its gates every day. As EV ownership among these groups increased, it became apparent that the current charging infrastructure was insufficient.

“We had a good feeling that we were under-serving folks as there were more requests for chargers,” Stude explained. “We also really anticipated increased growth to the number of guests and attendees for our events on campus, as campus life has continued to grow post-pandemic, and more people are driving electric now than ever before.”

Partnering with SWTCH for a Scalable Solution

PSU’s solution came in the form of a partnership with SWTCH. A leader in EV charging infrastructure for high-traffic buildings and public spaces, SWTCH provided PSU with the technology and expertise needed to install a reliable, scalable network of EV chargers in the university’s largest parking garage. This new system not only serves the immediate needs of students, faculty, and visitors but also provides the flexibility needed to expand as demand increases over time.

The garage also serves as the main parking destination for guests attending events at the Viking Pavilion, meaning the chargers are strategically positioned to be easily accessible for all visitors, now and into the future.

“The placement of these chargers allows us to be nimble and be ready to scale up when the time comes, which is nice,” said Stude.

Smooth installation & a positive reception

Though state institutions often find their projects face delays and budget overruns, the collaboration between PSU and SWTCH went remarkably smoothly, from planning to installation.

“It felt like this project happened pretty quickly and pretty easily,” said Stude. “Being a state institution, it seems like everywhere we turn, we have things that are delayed and take too long or run over cost.”

Since the installation of the new chargers in the largest campus garage, the response from the PSU community has been overwhelmingly positive. Students, staff, and visitors alike have appreciated the ease of access and the availability of both Level 2 and Level 1 chargers, which provide flexible options for different charging needs.

“So far, the feedback has been great,” Stude said. “And we’ve been closely monitoring utilization. This project has put us in a good position to meet current demand while scaling up when necessary.”

EV Charging Tools & Support for Long-Term Efficiency and Sustainability

With SWTCH OS™, PSU can monitor, manage, and optimize its EV charging operations with ease. This can help PSU to track real-time utilization data, adjust pricing if needed, and ensure the chargers are functioning properly. SWTCH’s platform also allows PSU to monitor sustainability metrics, such as the amount of carbon offset by EV drivers using the chargers, helping the university align charger usage with its broader sustainability goals.

But just as important as the features within the platform is the proactive monitoring of the charging network by the SWTCH team, which reaches out in the event there’s any sort of anomaly or outage detected. For PSU, having a reliable, responsive partner like SWTCH has been essential.

“Our team is small, so we rely on partners like SWTCH to help us manage the infrastructure efficiently,” Stude said. “Their responsiveness has been excellent. Whenever an issue arises, we know we can count on them to address it quickly.”

Stude says that PSU’s investments in EV charging today are part of a longer-term effort that will, inevitably, require additions and improvements over time. “It’s not a static thing. It will need to be upgraded, it will need to be maintained. So really, we’re looking to approach it as something that we’re committed to in the long term and, accordingly, selecting vendors that we enjoy working with, like SWTCH, who we feel are going to be supportive of our evolving program.”

An important win for PSU’s sustainability mission

As PSU continues to evolve its EV charging infrastructure, the university remains committed to its sustainability goals and its role as a leader in the community. By providing accessible, reliable EV charging, PSU is not only supporting its students and staff but also contributing to the broader transition to electric vehicles in the region.

“This project fits really well into the university’s mission, Stude said. “It’s definitely a win for us, and it’s the kind of thing that the university administration is looking for.”

Do you want to learn how SWTCH can help you install EV charging for your institution?

Get in touch with our team today!