An electric vehicle carshare program has been launched in Ann Arbor as part of a global effort to revolutionize sustainable transportation practices. The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, seeks to increase EV accessibility while also addressing low-income community transportation needs.
The Ann Arbor initiative is housed at Carrot Way apartments and locations in Detroit and Kalamazoo. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Aaron Cooper, executive director of Avalon Housing, the company spearheading the launch, said the project was put into motion by Forth Mobility, a Michigan-based nonprofit organization committed to increasing the accessibility of EV transportation.
“Forth Mobility, which is really the main entity driving this out of the West Coast, wanted to come into Michigan to provide electric car sharing in low-income neighborhoods and communities,” Cooper said.
The project aims to reduce carbon emissions and support energy conservation in underserved areas, starting with affordable housing communities. Its pricing is $5 per hour and includes car insurance to minimize financial barriers to clean energy transportation.
Cooper said the goal of Forth Mobility is to reduce the environmental impact of the automotive industry.
“The goal is to bring electric vehicle carshare to reduce carbon emissions and support energy conservation goals in (low-income) neighborhoods,” Cooper said. “It has a great mission to allow low-income individuals to be able to have access to some of the clean energy technologies that they typically don’t have access to.”
Maggie Calnin, director of Michigan Clean Cities, told The Daily in an interview the company collaborated on a grant proposal to the Department of Energy, which secured funding to replicate Forth’s successful Oregon model in Michigan.
“Our role involves recruiting site hosts, promoting the project and ensuring its smooth operation across the state,” Calnin said. “The EV fits in as one of the lowest zero emission transportation options.”
Calnin, who also frequently utilizes the program, said it allows her to use electric vehicles in a convenient and accessible way.
“I find it useful for me and my family,” Calnin said. “It gives me an ability to have access to a newer electric vehicle that’s reliable, whereas I otherwise wouldn’t be able to use this technology or get where I need to go quite as easily without the carshare program.”
Users can make reservations to utilize the program through the MDO Car Share app or a phone call to reserve and access vehicles. However, before using, users must pay a $10 application fee and complete a mandatory orientation to ensure drivers are licensed, understand how to operate the vehicles and know their safety measures.
Cooper said the program is intended to reach all local communities near cities where the program is active.
“The program is open to the entire community, not just Avalon residents,” Cooper said. “We work with Forth Mobility and Elevate Energy to ensure the vehicles are available for reservation and use, facilitating accessibility … We see (it) as a way that someone could rent this vehicle…to get them from point A to point B that’s affordable, whereas if they didn’t have a vehicle or couldn’t afford the car insurance, the $5 an hour to utilize the vehicle is a way to make sure that low-income individuals can use it.”
In an interview with The Daily, rising Engineering senior Ammad Hassan said the program would be helpful for college students because car ownership can be financially difficult.
“If I had this program, I would not have a car at all on campus,” Hassan said. “There’s a huge loss of financing with owning a car. (There are) tons of upfront costs along with costs for insurance, electricity (and) gas. I’d hope to see low upfront costs and make it as easy as possible for students to rent the car with accessible locations.”
Daily Staff Reporter Ariba Hassan can be reached at aribah@umich.edu.
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