The University of Newcastle has installed its first electric vehicle charging stations at the Callaghan campus.
Four stations are now operational with infrastructure put in place to support at least 20 more in the future.
The stations are powered by renewable energy under the university's 100 per cent renewable electricity contract with Red Energy, which began at the start of this year.
They can be used by staff, students and the general public.
Vehicles can be charged for free during an introductory period and there will be no parking fees when a vehicle is being charged.
"This significant investment in making our campus electric vehicle-friendly is aimed at helping our community meet the challenges of transitioning to electric vehicles," University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinsky said.
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The university has also adopted a policy that encourages any car it purchases to be electric as it moves towards being carbon neutral by 2025.
It will also install an additional 1.3 megawatt of solar photovoltaic panels to take its total solar power generation to 1.8 megawatt.
"Environmental and social responsibility are at the core of our institution and it's important we do whatever we can to lead on issues of environmental sustainability for our staff, students and community," Professor Zelinsky said.
The electric vehicle initiatives provided a work-integrated learning opportunity for second year design students from the School of Creative Industries.
Students pitched design concepts for a car decal that will appear on all electric vehicles purchased by the uni.
Edward Clarkson and Connor Getley's winning design was inspired by the cells seen in leaves under a microscope and the technology cells in solar panels.
"It cannot be overstated how important it is for students to gain the experience and exposure of working in [the] real world and understanding what will be required ... once we leave university," Mr Clarkson said.
Mr Getley said the assignment had been a confidence-building task.
"Having your design on University of Newcastle vehicles for everyone to see before you even finish your degree - it's honestly too good to be true," he said.
