Students drive electric truck across country to join Duke's new climate-business program

July 23, 2026 - 01:27

Two students completed a seven-day cross-country journey in an electric pickup truck this week, arriving at Duke University just in time to join the school's newly launched graduate program in business, climate, and sustainability. The road trip, which covered thousands of miles, was both a practical test of electric vehicle range and a symbolic gesture tied to their academic focus.

The students, who had been accepted into the inaugural cohort of the program, chose to drive rather than fly to reduce their carbon footprint. They relied on public charging stations and carefully planned their route to avoid running out of power in remote areas. Along the way, they documented the challenges of long-distance EV travel, including inconsistent charging infrastructure and unpredictable weather that cut into battery performance.

The new program at Duke aims to train future leaders who can bridge the gap between corporate strategy and environmental action. Courses cover sustainable finance, climate risk assessment, and the economics of clean energy. University officials said the students' road trip embodied the hands-on, problem-solving spirit they hope to foster.

For the two travelers, the journey was more than a commute. It was a chance to see firsthand the gaps in America's electric vehicle network and to think about how business decisions could help close them. Now that they have arrived, they plan to use that experience in the classroom.