Blue Solutions, a division of the Bolloré group of France, has partnered with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation to deploy 100 electric cars and 200 EV chargers on the streets of LA starting this year.

Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the opening of a demonstration station, which will be used for community outreach and drive and ride events until the full service is available for public use later in the year.

The BlueLA Electric Car Sharing Program will serve portions of Westlake, Pico Union, Koreatown, Echo Park, and Downtown Los Angeles, with the objective of bringing mobility options to low-income communities. Each on-street BlueLA station will consist of a self-service kiosk and 4 to 5 parking spots, each with an electric charger. Cars will be available 24/7, to anyone over 18 years of age with a valid driver’s license.

The project is funded in part by a $1.7-million grant from California Climate Investments (CCI), the state’s cap-and-trade program. Blue Solutions will invest over $10 million in the program.

BlueLA is modeled on the successful Autolib’ car sharing service in Paris, which has grown to over 3,500 cars and 5,500 charging points, and serves over 125,000 users. The Bolloré Group also operates car sharing services in several European cities, as well as in Indianapolis.

“Los Angeles is a wonderful showcase for our car sharing service and we aim to support the City’s environmental leadership with a commitment to affordability and equal access, allowing electric mobility to reach underserved communities,” said Marie Bolloré, General Director of Blue Solutions Electric Mobility. “Beyond reducing air pollution, BlueLA will bring electric vehicle technology – generally priced out of reach for low-income buyers – to communities that might not otherwise benefit from the technology for many years. By serving as an alternative to car ownership, the car sharing program will remove 1,000 private vehicles off the road, reducing congestion and parking impacts in the project area.”

Source: Blue Solutions