USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Policy and Procedure for Use of the GEM Electric Vehicle

 
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Viterbi GEM electric vehicle is to transport faculty, staff and graduate students around the University Park Campus. The vehicle is for official Viterbi business and not for personal use. This vehicle is for use only on city streets–no freeway driving. Maximum occupancy of the vehicle is 4 persons. The Driver is responsible for making sure that the vehicle is occupied by no more than 4 people at all times.
In addition to the below Viterbi policies, here is a link to the universities vehicle policies https://policy.usc.edu/vehicle-driver-requirements/.
Note: The GEM vehicle is not an electric cart, but an electric car permitted, licensed and registered to drive on city streets.

PROCEDURES FOR RESERVING, PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF OF VEHICLE
  • Authorized Drivers will use the Viterbi Business Affairs - Facilities website at https://viterbibusinessaffairs.usc.edu to reserve the vehicle and view the availability calendar. Reservations for using the vehicle are determined based on the usage priorities listed above on a first-come first-serve basis. Once the request is submitted, the requestor will receive an e-mail stating if the request has been approved or denied.
  • VBA Facilities has approval authority of all requests and reserves the right to cancel reservations at any time with proper notice.
  • Authorized Drivers of the vehicle must provide cell-phone or contact number prior to usage.
  • The vehicle key can be picked up from Jivin Seward located in OHE 332.
  • The vehicle key must be returned to Jivin Seward located in OHE 332 by 5:00 PM. If the user needs to use the vehicle after-hours, he/she must let Jivin know. At the end of the use period, the User is responsible for parking the vehicle in the Downey Street Structure in its designated parking spot.
  • Under no circumstances may the vehicle be left overnight anywhere other than its official parking space in Downey Street Structure.
  • Th vehicle must be plugged in at all times when it is parked in its designated parking spot in the Downey Street Structure.
 
ACCIDENTS AND TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS
Drivers are responsible for obeying state and local traffic laws and must adhere to any applicable university policies. Any Driver who violates any state or city driving law resulting in traffic or parking citations is in violation of this policy.
Employee Drivers must immediately report all accidents, moving violations, license suspensions and driving-related arrests to their department supervisor, whether or not the incident occurred while driving a university vehicle. The department must then report such incidents to Jivin Seward (213) 342-7243 and to the Department of Public Safety (213) 740-6000.
If the Driver has an accident in the electric vehicle:
  • Driver and passengers should remain calm and stop in a safe place.
  • If there are injuries, have someone call the police.
  • Do not make statements about the accident to any one except the police officer (DO NOT MAKE SETTLEMENTS).
Failure to follow the policies and procedures may result in loss of permission to operate the GEM vehicle.

Published on December 10th, 2017

Last updated on January 20th, 2023