Electric Shared Mobility: California Lessons Learned for Equity in Program Design

September 2024

Report cover with green banner on top with report title, 'Electric Shared Mobility', and photo of two electric vehicles charging.Shared mobility—an umbrella term for sharing transportation among multiple passengers—has the potential to accelerate transportation electrification, air quality, and greenhouse gas reduction goals, meet the needs of underserved communities that most lack mobility access, and further broaden mobility equity policy goals. CLEE’s report, Electric Shared Mobility: California Lessons Learned for Equity in Program Design, highlights examples of shared mobility programs and identifies lessons learned for equity-focused electric vehicle (EV) program design based on analysis of California projects in two key categories: EV carshare and mobility hubs.

The report’s lessons include the need to:

  • Pursue public investment and public-private coalitions to enhance program sustainability

  • Perform a needs assessment survey before project design, invest in community outreach and education, and incorporate community feedback

  • Prioritize underserved communities through tailored site selection and intentional community engagement

  • Ensure adequate staffing and early political momentum for programs

  • Hire local residents to train and educate others when introducing new programs

  • Build on existing community efforts and projects where possible to strengthen program utility and durability

The case study examples in the report include: 

  • BlueLA, an EV carshare program in Los Angeles
  • Green Raiteros, a rideshare program in Huron
  • Míocar, an all-electric carshare service in Tulare, Richmond, and Stockton
  • Green Tech Mobility Hub, offering multiple mobility options in the Del Paso Heights neighborhood of Sacramento 
  • EV Car Sharing and Mobility Hubs in Affordable Housing Pilot program, at sites in Oakland, Richmond, and San Jose
  • Our Community CarShare, an EV carshare program in Sacramento

Electric Shared Mobility: California Lessons Learned for Equity in Program Design is intended to assist local government leaders, air district and transit planning and program staff, and other stakeholders promote equity in the planning and installation of shared mobility and EV carshare programs. The authors hope that the examples and lessons outlined in the report can help ensure that new and expanded shared mobility programs are both equitable and effective.

Access the full report here: Electric Shared Mobility: California Lessons Learned for Equity in Program Design


Contact Katherine Hoff or Ted Lamm for more information.