On Friday, June 9, City of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti will launch a demonstration station that will kick-start the “BlueLA Electric Car Sharing Program,” a pilot project that will deploy 100 electric cars and 200 EV charging stations starting this year.
According to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the electric car sharing service will serve disadvantaged communities, including portions of Westlake, Pico Union, Koreatown, Echo Park and downtown Los Angeles.
CARB says the demonstration station will be used for community outreach, ride-and-drive events, and raising awareness about EVs. The project was funded, in part, by a $1.7 million grant through California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health – particularly in disadvantaged communities.
Majority funding is provided by Blue Solutions, a division of the Bolloré Group, which will invest over $10 million in Los Angeles as part of this program.
The event will begin at 11 a.m. at 1901 7th St., Los Angeles, and will feature speakers including California State Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de Leon, California State Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, CARB member Hector De La Torre, Los Angeles Department of Transportation general manager Seleta Reynolds, and Blue Solutions General Manager Serge Amabile, in addition to Mayor Garcetti.
CARB says the event will display BlueLA electric cars and kiosks as visuals, and test drive opportunities will follow the press conference.