KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has opened 12 electric vehicle charging stations on campus for visitors, students and staff.

About half of the stations are located on the UT Agriculture Campus and the other half are located on the main campus, south of the former Student Health Center.

The charging stations are owned and operated by San Francisco-based company ECOtality and require a Blink Network membership card or guest access code. The stations will be free of charge through April 30.

Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek said in a news release that the stations will help reduce the university's carbon footprint and moves the school closer to its goal of being carbon neutral.