Members and the public invited to open house events throughout the summer to test drive the new vehicles and learn about carsharing.
Ithaca, NY – Ithaca Carshare, a local nonprofit with the mission of enhancing community access to transportation while reducing negative environmental and economic impacts, is celebrating its 13th anniversary with an expansion of its 29-car fleet to include its first two electric vehicles (EV).
To honor the occasion, Ithaca Carshare is hosting Open House events on Saturday, June 12 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. and Wednesday, July 21 from 4-6 p.m. at 210 Hancock St. Both Carshare members and nonmembers are invited to the events to learn more about the two new Chevy Bolt EVs, the EV charging station located at 210 Hancock, and the benefits of both carsharing and electric vehicles. Members of the 1,500-member organization will have the opportunity to test drive the new environmentally friendly additions.
“The Center for Community Transportation is excited for this next chapter in offering accessible and sustainable transportation options to the Ithaca community” says Associate Director Anna Cook. “EV technology and range has progressed so much in the past years, and we hope people will find these vehicles as convenient and fun to drive as we do.”
The cars will be permanently located at local site hosts 210 Hancock St., an INHS community development, and Diane’s Downtown Automotive. As early supporters of EV charging infrastructure, both have offered publicly available EV charging stations for 3+ years. The 210 Hancock charging station is utilized 25 days a month, and saves 279 gallons of gas, 244 gallons of diesel, and 2,742 pounds of coal per year. INHS is a regional affordable housing organization that provides safe and quality housing for low-to moderate-income households with a focus on sustainability and green building practices.
This project is supported by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to expand community access to the EV market in underserved areas and accelerate EV adoption through innovation and demonstration. It supports New York State’s climate and clean energy goals under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
Adam Ruder, Assistant Director of Clean Transportation, NYSERDA, “We are proud of this initiative with Ithaca Carshare and our local partners to expand electric vehicle access to more residents. Whether running an errand or traveling, enjoying a clean, quiet, and efficient driving experience in an electric vehicle helps drivers lower their carbon footprint and build a more sustainable future for their community.”
Carsharing is an excellent replacement to car ownership for primarily local trips, including shopping, errands, appointments, to pick up /drop off family, and occasional regional travel. Each carsharing vehicle can replace the need for 9-13 private cars. Membership to Ithaca Carshare is open to anyone over 18 with minimum of two years of driving experience. The EVs are part of Ithaca Carshare’s collaboration with Energetics, a clean energy consulting company, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, and Ridge Road Imports to expand the market for used EV and facilitating EV usage for the low- and moderate-income community.
Links:
Formatted EV Open House Event Poster
EV_NYSERDA Project Summary