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LCTI: BlueLA Carsharing Pilot Project

Clean Mobility Options Legacy Pilot Project

City of Los Angeles, Department of Transportation | BlueLA Carsharing Pilot Project

Los Angeles Department of Transportation Logo    BlueLA Mobility logo  

October 2015 – March 2025

Project Details

BlueLA Carsharing Pilot Project includes construction and installation of 100 carshare stations with 500 charge points and operation of an electric vehicle carshare program with 300 electric vehicles in disadvantaged communities within the City of Los Angeles. Through an upcoming expansion, the program will also include a fleet of at least 250 e-bikes or scooters. 

Project Highlights

  • More than half of membership (55%) consists of low-income residents 
  • Since project launch, over 63,000 trips taken, and more than 1.3 million miles traveled
  • The carshare service has so far reduced an estimated annual GHG emissions by 2,234.11 metric tons -- equivalent to 2,469,325 pounds of coal burned or 251,391 gallons of gasoline consumed 

Lessons Learned

  • This project has experienced a change of operator. Even with a well-planned transition process, it is challenging to run an on-going operation seamlessly. Being transparent, with dedicated and committed resources are essentials to success.
  • Public-private partnerships allow greater flexibility and resources: rebates, fee waivers, and in-kind services from the City and infrastructure/vehicle investment from BlueLA.
  • Set aside an ample budget for outreach to the community and businesses within the project area.

Funding Details

Grant Amount: $4,669,343

Resource Contributions: $26,524,394

Project Total: $31,193,737

By the Numbers

Services, Vehicles & Equipment Funded

  • 40 Carsharing sites, 60 more to be installed in 2024
  • 200 Charge points installed, 300 more to be installed in 2024
  • 152 Electric Chevy Bolts currently deployed, 150 more in 2024
  • 4,250+ Members 
  • 565,000+ Trips taken
  • 18.4 Million+ miles traveled
  • 11 On-street surveys
  • 15 Neighborhood meetings
  • 16 Community forums
  • 273 Pop-up events held

Estimated Quantifiable Benefits 

  • GHG emission reductions: 5,102 MTCO2e
  • NOx reductions: 1,837 lbs
  • PM2.5 reductions: 10 lbs
  • ROG reductions: 504 lbs
  • Passenger VMT reductions: -7,517,650 miles
  • Travel cost savings: $1,687,520
  • Fossil fuel-based transportation fuel use reductions: 496,131 gallons
  • Direct Jobs: 11
  • Indirect Jobs: 6 
  • Induced Jobs: 10

  BlueLA EV Car with driver and passenger   Image from inside a BlueLA Chevy Volt, smiling driver looks toward back seat.

  Blue LA member standing at charge point preparing to charge Chevy volt parked behind her.   Blue LA member inserting a charger in the front port of a parked Chevy Bolt

Community Details

This program targets disadvantaged communities within the City of Los Angeles. Service areas include the Los Angeles Neighborhoods of Echo Park, Hollywood, East Hollywood, Silverlake, Wilshire Center, Mid-City, Westlake, Koreatown, Pico-Union, Downtown, Echo Park, Boyle Heights, South LA, Chinatown, Rampart Village, MacArthur Park, and Jefferson Park. It is our goal to achieve pollutant emission reductions through clean carsharing fleets, while providing underserved residents with access to affordable housing and diverse transportation options. 

Project Participant Demographic Information 

40% White, 29% Hispanic or Latino, 15% Black or African American, 13% Asian or Pacific Islander, and 3% Other  

Annual Household Income (AHHI): Over 56% at/below $35,000 AHHI, Over 82% at/below $75,000 AHHI 

Community Benefits

This project takes a holistic equity approach to implementing active and clean transportation strategies, by providing clean transportation options to low-income community residents. While defining EV carshare program as a viable public transportation option for all Angelenos, the program performance will help build a model for future low-income transportation programs.

    Outreach & Engagement Strategies

    • Project website
    • Smartphone app
    • Surveys
    • Pop-up events
    • Test rides
    • Community forums
    • Flyers and brochures

    Target Populations

    • Low-income residents
    • Disadvantaged communities 
    • People of color
    • Residents without access to a vehicle

    Partnership Structure

    Grantee

    The City of Los Angeles, Department of Transportation (LADOT) is the local government overseeing the LA City Carsharing Project. LADOT leads transportation planning, project delivery, and operations in the City of Los Angeles. LADOT is investing in public transit, testing new technology, and adopting mobility innovations for a cleaner environment where all people can walk, scoot, bike, rideshare, and take public transit with ease.

    Project Partners

    Contact

    Anita Tang | (213) 972-8425 | LADOT