January 16, 2025

Cities nationwide receive newly announced federal funding to provide equitable, sustainable access to electric car sharing

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Transportation's (DOT) Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office) has announced $43.7 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Nearly $20 million will benefit Zipcar's public and private partners who have chosen Zipcar as their electric car-sharing provider.  

As the world’s leading car-sharing network, environmental sustainability is a key benefit of the car-free and car-lite lifestyles Zipcar enables, especially with the increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). Since 2000, Zipcar’s vision has been that the future is shared not owned, and EVs present an opportunity to accelerate car-sharing’s social and environmental impact. EV car sharing provides an accessible, sustainable transportation option, reducing both emissions and vehicle ownership.  

“As Zipcar, we aim to make the EV driving experience easily accessible and seamless for our members. Our longstanding relationships with cities nationwide and innovative partnerships within the dynamic EV ecosystem, are essential to paving the way forward for equitable and sustainable transportation via car sharing,” said Angelo Adams, head of Zipcar. 

Initiatives Advancing Equity and Sustainability 

For 25 years, Zipcar has driven sustainable transportation further and, more recently, launched initiatives in communities that may not be able to afford the cost and hassles of EV ownership, such as dedicated charging, parking and maintenance. In 2023, Zipcar expanded its EV fleet in select cities, committing to allocating 25% of its EVs to disadvantaged communities, with plans to increase its EV fleet up to double its current size in 2024, initiatives announced as part of the White House EV Acceleration Challenge.  
 
Now, Zipcar and its partners will deploy newly announced funding for transformative projects, including: 

City of Portland E-Mobility Hubs 

  • Funding: Zipcar partner the City of Portland will receive $1.7 million  

  • Project: Pilot curbside E-Mobility Hubs. via City of Portland partners Forth Mobility, It's Electric, Lime, Portland State University and Zipcar.  

  • Impact: The funding supports charging for personal electric vehicles (EVs) and shared-use electric fleets via Zipcar, e-scooters and e-bikes. These hubs will make it easier for Portlanders, especially those who cannot charge at home, to access shared electric charging and transportation options. The project aims to electrify up to 4 Zipcar locations with 4 dedicated charging ports.

EV Charger Deployment across Tri-State Area

  • Funding: Zipcar partner Voltpost will receive $2.6 million  

  • Project: This innovative private sector partnership among Capitol Clean Cities, Clean Transportation Coalition of Western CT, Clean Transportation Communities of Southern CT, Cityfi, Empire Clean Cities, INF Associates, New Jersey Clean Cities and Zipcar, aims to deploy electric charging at scale.  

  • Impact: The project aims to tackle barriers associated with home EV charging access by utilizing existing infrastructure, thereby reducing installation costs and permitting times. The strategic placement of chargers will support first-mile electrification for commuters and will include charging for electric car-sharing via Zipcar, to promote a convenient and sustainable transportation option for low-income residents unable to purchase an EV. Zipcar is targeting approximately 10-20 EV car sharing locations across the tri-state area with up to 30 dedicated charging ports. 

EV Charger Deployment in Washington, D.C. 

  • Funding: The District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment will receive $15 million

  • Project: Install 454 public EV charging ports at 220 sites including retail locations, multifamily properties, car-sharing spaces via Zipcar, curbside spaces, and public parking lots across the District of Columbia.  

  • Impact: Expand access to sustainable transportation across diverse communities 

Pioneering Equitable Car Sharing  

Zipcar was the first car-sharing provider in the U.S. to introduce both EVs to its shared fleet and to overburdened communities; EVs were added to the fleet in Boston in 2002 and in 2023, nearly 50% of its EV fleet serves environmental justice populations. In 2017, Zipcar was the first to serve low-income communities with EV through Our Community CarShare (OCCS), a program in partnership with the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, the Sacramento Housing Authority, and Breathe California, which continues to expand.