Carsharing for Electric Cars Coming to Low-Income Communities This Summer

The Greenlining Institute •

Contact:
Bruce Mirken, Greenlining Institute Media Relations Director, 510-926-4022; 415-846-7758 (cell)

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – Thanks to legislation enacted last year, SB 1275 (de León), the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has taken the first steps to create carsharing programs for electric cars in low and moderate income communities. CARB will begin soliciting proposals for such programs within the next few weeks and hopes to have the first pilot programs up and running this summer.

To help make this process as effective as possible, tomorrow The Greenlining Institute has released ELECTRIC CARSHARING IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES: Considerations for Program Success. Greenlining’s analysis guides policymakers through such complicated issues as insurance, credit and payment options, parking, infrastructure and outreach, all of which will be critical to the success of these efforts.

“Low and moderate income communities are hit first and worst by pollution and must be part of the solution to dirty air and climate change,” said Greenlining Environmental Equity Fellow Joel Espino, lead author of the report. “California’s smart climate policies have created a first of its kind opportunity to invest in clean vehicle carsharing programs geared to the needs of underserved communities.”

Among other things, the report urges CARB to:

  • Solicit and follow the input of local community groups, the people who know the needs of their communities best and can guide considerations such as location, outreach and publicity;
  • Accelerate the placement of electric car charging infrastructure in apartment complexes; and
  • Create partnerships between carsharing operators, utilities, charging station companies and community-based organizations.

Funding for these programs comes from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund created by AB 32, the state’s climate change and clean energy law. To learn more about how California climate policies are bringing new opportunities to underserved communities, visit UpLiftCA.org (English) or es.UpLiftCA.org (Spanish).

###

THE GREENLINING INSTITUTE
A Multi-Ethnic Public Policy, Research and Advocacy Institute
www.greenlining.org

MENU