FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2019
Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC) and the City of Los Angeles are celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Blue LA Electric Vehicle (EV) Carshare pilot, a first-of-its-kind program that provides 100% electric vehicles to low-income communities in Los Angeles, and the award of a $3 million grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to grow the program in Phase Two. These funds will allow the service to scale up and expand into South LA, East Los Angeles, and East Hollywood.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti commented on the human benefits of BlueLA remarking, “The BlueLA EV Carshare program has helped protect Angelenos from harmful pollutants, build healthier communities across our city, and bring new transportation options to neighborhoods on the front lines of climate change.”
The pilot was developed by lead technical advisor SUMC, and uses vehicle and charging technology from BlueLA, a subsidiary of the Bolloré Group in France. Thanks to the program, 260 metric tons of CO2 have been avoided in 2018. These numbers are the result of the pilot’s rapid growth, which now includes:
- 80 electric vehicles
- 130 charge points
- 26 charging stations
- Nearly 2,000 BlueLA members
- Over 12,000 trips
City of Los Angeles
The one-year anniversary of Blue LA will be commemorated with two weeks of events and promotions. About the celebrations SUMC Executive Director Sharon Feigon commented, “Implementing a pilot that both reduces air pollution for the communities most affected by it while providing access to jobs and resources that contribute to a better quality of life is a victory on all fronts.”
During preparations for BlueLA, the process of choosing partners, locating and building charging points and stations, and engaging the community taught valuable lessons. SUMC has published a detailed case study on this process that clearly spells out best practices and lessons learned. Read the BlueLA Case Study.
In Phase Two, the program will increase the size of the EV fleet and the number of charging points, as well as add innovative payment and service models. SUMC is collaborating with Mobility Development Partners for long-term support.
About the Shared-Use Mobility Center The Shared-Use Mobility Center is a public-interest organization dedicated to achieving universal, affordable, and sustainable mobility in urban and metropolitan regions of the US through the efficient sharing of transportation assets. Through piloting programs, conducting new research, and providing policy and technical expertise to cities and regions, SUMC seeks to extend the benefits of shared mobility for all.
Visit us at www.SharedUseMobilityCenter.org
Contact:
Leslie Gray
Shared-Use Mobility Center
O: (312) 448-8083 Ext. 403
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