Drivers on South Hill now have far more places to plug in after Ithaca College completed a major expansion of its electric vehicle charging network.
The college added 30 new charging stations across campus, increasing public charging capacity ninefold and making the system available to students, employees, visitors, and the surrounding community.
The multi-year “Recharge at IC” project includes 26 Level 2 chargers along Farm Pond Road, two Level 2 chargers near Kostrinsky Field, and two dual-port DC fast chargers at the Athletics & Events Center. The fast chargers are the first publicly available DC fast chargers located on a college campus in New York State.
“Access to dependable charging is the number one factor that determines whether people feel confident making the switch to an electric vehicle,” said Scott Doyle ’98, Ithaca College’s director of energy management and sustainability. “This new infrastructure helps remove that barrier for our campus and for the region.”
All stations are open to the public for up to four hours per session. Charging rates are set below typical residential costs, with DC fast charging priced at 30 cents per kilowatt hour and Level 2 charging at 15 cents per kilowatt hour. Revenue will support maintenance and future EV projects on campus.
The effort began in 2022 with a campuswide assessment of fleet electrification and public charging needs. At the time, Ithaca College had just two dual chargers with space for four vehicles.
Following planning and design work, construction wrapped up this fall. The project cost more than $700,000, but support from NYSEG, Lynkwell, and expected state rebates reduced the college’s out-of-pocket cost to about $100,000 before charging revenue.
President La Jerne Terry Cornish said the project reflects Ithaca College’s broader role in the community.
“These new charging stations reflect Ithaca College’s deep commitment to sustainability and to serving the broader community,” Cornish said. “This is what it means to be ‘Ithaca’s College’: we invest in solutions that benefit our students, our employees, and our neighbors.”
County officials also praised the expansion as a regional asset, noting it improves access to charging across Tompkins County and supports long-term climate goals.
Additional chargers are located in the Visitor Lot and at Circles Community Center. Beginning Jan. 20, the Visitor Lot chargers will return to visitor-only use.
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