New EVs Part of Long-Term Investment Toward Zero Emissions

The Alabama A&M University Department of Public Safety (DPS) has debuted four new electric vehicles, becoming the first university campus in the state of Alabama to operate an electric police vehicle fleet.

The rollout builds on the University’s leadership in sustainability. In 2019, Alabama A&M became the first campus in the state to introduce electric buses and the first HBCU in the nation to do so. These latest additions are part of the University’s long-term goal to achieve zero emissions by 2031.

“We’re the first police department in the state to have this type of vehicle supporting a university campus,” says Chief Montrez Payton, Chief of Police and Executive Director of Emergency Preparedness. “That’s something we’re very proud of—supporting green initiatives while still being able to respond efficiently to the needs of our students and campus community.”

Payton says the new Chevy Blazer EVs are state-of-the-art and fully equipped for law enforcement operations.

“These are police-packaged vehicles—they’re not just EVs,” says Payton. “They have all the same capabilities and equipment as traditional patrol vehicles. Even though they’re fully electric, they support everything we need from a functionality standpoint.”

The vehicles were acquired through federal appropriations, making the investment cost-free for the University.

“The federal government wanted to invest in our campus and campus safety,” Payton adds. “That support made this possible at no cost to Alabama A&M.”

In addition to supporting sustainability goals, Payton says the EVs will generate long-term cost savings.

“It’s a tremendous benefit,” he says. “You eliminate oil changes and many of the maintenance costs that come with gas-powered vehicles, while still maintaining the same response capabilities. The technology in these EVs has improved tremendously over the years, and after test-driving and speaking with campuses in Georgia that have already transitioned to EVs, we felt confident this was the right direction for us.”

Last semester, DPS completed construction of a dedicated charging station located behind the department’s building to support the new fleet.

DPS officially placed the vehicles into full service after they were fully outfitted with Alabama A&M logos and decals to match the rest of the department’s fleet, ensuring they are easily recognizable as official University patrol vehicles.

While the EVs are being used primarily for daily campus patrols, DPS will continue to utilize gas-powered vehicles for longer-distance travel, including transporting athletic teams and the band, as the University continues to expand its EV technology and infrastructure.

Payton says the rollout has been well received by officers across the department.

“They appreciate the investment the University has made in campus safety,” he says. “They feel we’re on par with any other agency, while also being part of something innovative. Being the first to do this is meaningful for our officers and for our campus community. It’s an exciting time for Alabama A&M.”