Monday, June 12, 2017
Mayor Garcetti Launches BlueLA, New EV Car Sharing Program
A new, electric car sharing program was launched by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Friday, called the BlueLA Electric Car Sharing Program, in an attempt to bring electric car vehicle sharing to low income communities. The new program, which is being run by Blue Solutions, will initially offer up electric vehicles in the Westlake, Pico Union, Koreatown, Echo Park, and Downtown Los Angeles areas of Los Angeles, and specifically is aimed at expanding access to electric vehicles to low-income and disadvantaged communities.
The first station for the car sharing program, opened on Friday, is at the corner of 7th and Bonnie Brae streets in Pico Union. The mayor and other backers of the program said that ultimately, the program will make 100 electric cars and 200 chargers available at self service stations across the city, available to anyone 18 years or older with a valid driver's. The first station is expected to go into full operation sometime later this year, and until then will be used for community outreach, drive and ride events, and efforts to raise awareness about electric vehicles.
The Mayor's office said the program is funded in part by a $1.7 million grant through California Climate Investments (CCI), and is also being supported by California State Senate Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, the California Air Resources Board, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, and others.