Public-Private-Nonprofit Collaboration Selected to Develop Model Policies to Accelerate Scaling of Ultralight E-mobility
With $750,000 in funding from the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation’s Community Taking Charge Accelerator, the Shared-Use Mobility Center will promote regulatory consistency to support ultralight e-mobility solutions.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2025
Media Contact
Hannah Wilson, Senior Director, Partnerships & Engagement
CHICAGO, Ill. – JANUARY 16, 2025: The Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC), together with partners at Cityfi and the Urban Freight Lab, has been selected to receive over $750,000 from the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to lead a public-private-community collaboration to facilitate nationwide regulatory consistency for ultralight e-mobility solutions.
E-cargo delivery bikes, e-tuktuks, microtrucks and low-speed electric vehicles (LSVs) or neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) – collectively referred to as “light urban vehicles” (LUVs) – fill an important gap in the mobility ecosystem. Smaller than a car or truck, but larger than a bicycle, LUVs provide broad utility at a much lower cost than full-size electric vehicles. LUVs, however, fall into a regulatory grey zone in the U.S. Neither car nor bike, cities and states have adopted separate policies and regulations to address these emerging mobility devices – resulting in a national patchwork of inconsistent and confusing regulations that stymie scaling and adoption, despite their climate, accessibility and economic development benefits.
The awarded project will develop model policies, codes and infrastructure designs – informed by a working group of industry leaders, public policy makers, and community stakeholders – for adoption by states and cities across the country. More uniform regulation and policy will help industry scale and offer consumers more clean, affordable mobility options. Regulatory harmonization is also essential to their safe operation and consistent enforcement.
“Light urban vehicles are the next big transformation in American mobility,” says Karina Ricks of strategic advisory firm Cityfi, a partner in the project. “Throughout the world, LUVs provide an affordable, sustainable mobility solution for people and businesses. But in the U.S., the lack of clear policy has been a major impediment. This project will address that barrier.”
SUMC’s Speeding Up Low Speed Vehicle (LSV) E-Mobility Solutions project was selected as part of the Communities Taking Charge Accelerator from the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. This program, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, is investing $43.7 million in projects that expand mobility options and infrastructure that match how people and things move, enabling Americans to have more choices in how they travel while creating a more flexible, efficient energy system.
“American organizations continue to innovate within energy and transportation, building toward a more connected, scalable, and resilient zero-emission infrastructure,” said Debs Schrimmer, Senior Advisor, Community and Urban Charging for the Joint Office. “This project from SUMC is another example of this potential, and we’re excited to see its progress.”
There are limited openings for private industry participation and partnership. For more information or to express interest in joining this collaborative effort as an Operator or OEM, email [email protected].
To learn more about opportunities to advance zero-emissions transportation options, visit the Joint Office’s website at: https://driveelectric.gov/.
ABOUT THE SHARED-USE MOBILITY CENTER (SUMC)
SUMC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public interest organization and international thought leader working to replace car-centric transportation with people-focused shared mobility to fight climate change, promote equity, and strengthen community. Learn more at www.sharedusemobilitycenter.org.
