Carsharing & Clean Mobility Options Incentive Programs in Disadvantaged Communities

Programs in this category are intended to help launch carsharing services that use clean transportation options, including plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or battery electric vehicles (BEV), and serve disadvantaged, low-income, and tribal communities. Often these programs help facilitate transit access in the cases where the final destination of an individual or family who uses public transportation is located too far away from the endpoint of the transit route – people can drive station cars to complete the final leg of their trip.



Car Sharing how it works

How Carsharing Works

Carsharing services allow individuals to use cars on a short-term (hourly or daily), as-needed basis, paying only for the time they use the car and the mileage they drive. The operators of the service provide vehicle maintenance, repair, and insurance. Carsharing allows individuals to gain the benefits of using a private car without the costs and responsibilities of owning a car. After reserving a vehicle, program members can pick-up and return a car at designated locations. When the person is done using the car, they return it to its home parking space, lock it, and leave it for the next user.



The Benefits of Carsharing

The Benefits of Carsharing

  • Carsharing saves money – owning a private vehicle, while convenient, can be expensive (monthly payments, gasoline, oil changes and maintenance, parking, and insurance)
  • Alternative transportation modes are often considered, resulting in increased use of public transit, biking, and walking
  • Energy savings and air quality benefits




Regional Projects Serving Disadvantaged Communities



Our Community CarShare Sacramento

Our Community CarShare Sacramento

Sacramento Metropolitan AQMD, $5,863,847 (CARB Contribution)
Serves affordable housing communities in the Sacramento region

  • Two-electric vehicles and two chargers are available to residents at each community site
  • Subsidized transportation vouchers available for non-driving residents to use ride-hail services and public transit
  • Eight community housing sites currently have service, with two new sites launching by the end of 2021
  • Residents reserve vehicles for up to 3-hours for free or reduced cost to run errands, get to appointments, and take local trips

Lessons learned and project highlights




BlueLA Carsharing

BlueLA Carsharing

City of Los Angeles, $4,669,343 (CARB Contribution)
Serves the LA communities of Westlake, Koreatown, Pico-Union, Downtown, Echo Park, Boyle Heights, and Chinatown.

  • All-electric carsharing with more than 80 stations, 400 charging points and 300 cars planned in Los Angeles.
  • Members have access to a network of shared electric vehicles 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at self-service locations.
  • Discounted memberships are available for low-income qualified community members

Lessons learned and project highlights




Lift Line Paratransit Dial-a-Ride Electric Vehicle Transportation Program

Mobility Hubs at Affordable Housing Pilot - Bay Area

Metropolitan Transportation Commission, $2,250,000 (CARB Contribution)
Affordable Housing Developments in Richmond, Oakland, and San Jose

  • Carshare and mobility hub services are in the design phase of development and focused on better understanding residents’ clean transportation and mobility needs, travel behavior, and related concerns in their communities.
  • Community transportation needs assessments were completed at each housing development in the summer of 2019 to ensure the selected mobility mix addresses the unique needs of residents. The project team produced a Community Transportation Needs Assessment Report to document the needs assessment process in detail, summarize key findings, and share lessons learned.
  • A COVID-19 travel behavior assessment was conducted in early 2021 to gather community data on how the pandemic and economic downturn may have shifted transportation needs to allow for carshare and mobility investments to better serve residents.
  • Carshare and supporting services are anticipated to launch in 2021 and will provide community mobility hubs with tailored clean transportation and mobility options such as electric vehicle carsharing, bikesharing, e-scooter sharing, and free transit passes based on needs assessment findings.

Lessons learned and project highlights




Eco system  Project

Ecosystem of Shared Mobility Pilot - San Joaquin Valley

San Joaquin Valley APCD, $3,119,000 (CARB Contribution)
Serves disadvantaged communities throughout San Joaquin Valley

Pilot includes 3 components:
  • Miocar is an affordable all electric carsharing service serving 8 affordable housing complexes in rural Tulare and Kern counties, with 27 electric vehicles
  • The VAMOS Mobility as a Service (Maas) app which is a transportation-planning app that maximizes trip efficiency across the San Joaquin Valley and includes electric carsharing reservations (MioCar), EV ride-hailing (VOGO), bike routes, bus routes, and the option to pay transit fares
  • VOGO (Volunteer Ride-hailing) – Volunteers on the Go (VOGO) is a ride-hailing service offering free rides to underserved members of the community that cannot drive themselves or because other transit options are not available in the rural disadvantaged community census tracts

Lessons learned and project highlights




Eco system  Project

Lift Line Paratransit Dial-a-Ride Program - Watsonville

Community Bridges, $515,819 (CARB Contribution)
Serves the disadvantaged community of Watsonville, California in Santa Cruz County

  • First all-electric paratransit vehicles in Santa Cruz County
  • Replaced three existing gas-powered shuttles with two 16-seat and one 14-seat electric shuttles equipped with wheelchair lifts and installed two public-accessible level 2 charging stations
  • Offers free rides to low-income elderly and disabled passengers in need of door-to-door transportation to medical appointments, meal sites, etc.

Lessons learned and project highlights