Rural Carshares Ensure EV Push Leaves No One Behind

Electric vehicle carshares are gaining traction in low-income and rural communities across the United States as they aim to make sure that the shift to zero-emission vehicles does not leave social justice in the dust.

In the rural reaches of California’s San Joaquin Valley, Miocar—a four-year-old non-profit with a fleet of three Nissan Leafs and 34 Chevy Bolts served by 10 charging locations—plans to add more cars and locations by year’s end, reports Grist. It also offers guidance to others keen on establishing similar carshares.

Miocar is not alone in its efforts to ensure that income is not a barrier to EV access. Boston, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, and Los Angeles all have similar ventures, supported by local and state dollars—like the Washington State transportation department fund of US$2.8 million to encourage EV carshare efforts in low-income communities.