Moving towards electric: Two hybrids join MIT car fleet

MIT has taken a further step towards having a completely electric fleet of cars. Two Toyota Yaris Hybrids have been purchased and will be located on Otara campus for staff purposes, with plans to purchase another to be based at TechPark.

MIT Head of Property and Campus Services Brian Austin explains how this move is part of a larger strategy to reduce our carbon footprint as an organisation, although there is still work to be done.

“As society becomes more electric-centric in their vehicles, we would like to be in a position to follow the same path and have more full electrics in the fleet,” says Austin. “But we need to take our people on a journey of what it is to start going electric – which is why we
are starting with hybrids.”

Steps towards an electric future have already been taken at Manukau and TechPark campuses, with electric car charging stations fitted for general use for staff and students.

As part Goal 6 in the MIT Strategic Plan, sustainability objectives will need to align with relevant international standards and focused on raising staff and student consciousness about sustainability principles by 2023.

The strategy will include curriculum aspects such as integrating relevant sustainability principles, theory and practices into all programmes and introducing new programmes specifically about sustainability.

It will also include supporting informal/volunteer sustainability initiatives by staff and students, as well as formal organisational aspects such as reducing energy consumption and waste.

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