Public Safety upgrades to new sleek, street legal vehicles

By Russell Alston, student writer, Office of University Communication

Look closely, and you’ll notice a small fleet of new vehicles rolling around campus sporting the Coastal Carolina University logo. The familiar group of golf carts used by Public Safety has half a dozen of new additions in the form of all new, battery-powered StarEV security vehicles.

The upgrade to the new carts was made possible through state contract, allowing CCU to purchase them at a very low cost. For now, Public Safety employs all six of the vehicles, along with the previously owned carts.

Philip Moore, Major of Operations for Public Safety, believes the new carts are more efficient for CCU. “They lend a more professional appearance, provides us with more transportation space and have been a morale boost for our crew. Plus they come with doors; that’s more convenient during the cold winter months.” 

“Our goal is to be visible,” says Moore. “These vehicles have a unique image that helps us fulfill that goal.”

StarEV, a company that specializes in low-speed plug-in cars that are also street legal, assembles the carts in Simpsonville. The security carts used by CCU’s Public Safety are allowed to travel on roads where the speed limit is 35 mph. Each vehicle is 100 percent electric, meaning zero emissions. Other features include self-sealing tires, a PA system and a range of 50 to 60 miles on one charge.