Pilot Projects

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Conservation Corps’ at-risk young adults in the workforce development program use the URB-E vehicles and trailers for projects along the Lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach.

Goals:

• As an alternative to diesel-powered utility-terrain vehicles (UTVs), the e-bikes with cargo capacity will reduce GHG and criteria air pollutants. The pilot measures the distance travelled each day to quantify the amount of GHG emissions offset by using zero emissions transportation. The e-bikes are charged by an off-grid solar PV and battery system.
• The feasibility of offgrid charging. The URB-E bikes are charged in a recycled shipping container outfitted with rooftop solar and battery storage, proving that a charging mobility hub can be modular infrastructure.  Finding ways to more sustainably and more cost-effectively charge micro-mobility devices, whether e-bikes or scooters, is a focus of nearly every player and investor in the micro-mobility space.
• The at-risk youth are encouraged to pursue green jobs and they will work with LACI and the Conservation Corps of Long Beach on training and green job opportunities.

Partners:

• URB-E bikes are foldable electric bikes with detachable foldable trailers - providing flexible cargo capacity that can be stored in a small footprint.
• Founded in 1987, CCLB annually employs and trains more than 200 corps members from the greater Long Beach area.
• CCLB projects include activities such as removing invasive vegetation, planting trees, collecting litter, and soon to be, promoting safety along the Lower Los Angeles River as river ambassadors.

To address the lack of transportation options, LACI along with Pacoima Beautiful, a local environmental justice nonprofit, launched a community-facing on-demand shared electric vehicles (EVs) with LACI’s portfolio company Envoy.

Goals:

• Increase accessibility to transportation and specifically zero emission transportation.
• Provide affordable alternative option to vehicle ownership reducing internal combustion engine vehicle purchases.
• EV car share program sustainability via revenue share between Envoy and the community partner.
• Inclusive access to program with marketing material translated into the community's primary language.

Partners:

• Founded in 1996, Pacoima Beautiful is the only environmental justice organization in the Northeast San Fernando Valley striving for cleaner and safer communities.
• Envoy provides electric vehicle car shares for roundtrip transportation to resident’s key essential activities such as trips to the grocery, doctor, bank, and work.
• Envoy electric vehicles are quick and easy to reserve and each vehicle has a dedicated parking space and charger.

The geographic location of Rancho San Pedro and infrequent public transit makes it difficult for residents to connect to the City of Los Angeles and neighboring communities. The EV car share provides a zero emission transportation option to the community that has already culturally accepted concepts of carpooling and car-sharing informally.

Goals:

• Prove replicable and sustainable program model with dynamic membership rates plans that identify market price points for EV car share adoption and operational break-even.
• Accessibility and inclusiveness addressed with alternative payment options for the unbanked population.
  • Insights into most effective community outreach methods compared across EV car share pilots.

Partners:

• HACLA was established in 1938 and has grown to become one of the nations’ largest and leading public housing authorities.
• Rancho San Pedro has over 470 units and is situated on a 21-acre site across from the Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro award-winning Battleship USS Iowa museum.
• Envoy provides electric vehicle car shares for roundtrip transportation to resident’s key essential activities such as trips to the grocery, doctor, bank, and work.
• Envoy electric vehicles are quick and easy to reserve and each vehicle has a dedicated parking space and charger

It is a moment of great opportunity for Leimert Park with the Destination Crenshaw groundbreaking in celebration of local art and culture as well as Leimert Park Village 20 / 20 Village Initiative bringing infrastructure and transit oriented development to the community. The pilot seeks to increase access to not only clean and affordable transportation but also benefits of the green economy through workforce development and job creation.

Goals:

• Workforce development through e-bike mechanic training, local shuttle driver hiring, and opportunity for increased delivery revenue.
• First / last mile transportation for local errands as well as connection to metro for access to the greater LA region.
• Local business growth both from increased foot traffic and greater delivery throughput.

Partners:

• The community partners include SankofaCity, We Love Leimert, Community for Economic Development Corporation / Institute for Maximum Human Potential, and KAOS Networks who are lead community outreach and education strategy.
• Additional partners are local businesses, Ride On! Bike Shop / Co-op and South LA Cafe, both activists and community organizers as well as LACI’s Founders Business Accelerator participants.

This novel process will be paired with EV charger technology that works for the community (via co-benefits such as tourism, wayfinding in city center, etc.) to create a model that will accelerate the expansion of curbside EV chargers.

Goals:

• Leverage curbside charging to spur EV adoption in multi-family affordable housing complexes.
• Study EV purchase behavior change with public charging availability.
• Deliver repeatable method for quickly and cost effectively installing curbside EV fast charging utilizing existing utility electrical and mounting infrastructure.

Partners:

• Southern California Edison (SCE) is a public utility committed to safe clean energy.
• The SCE Charge Ready program has completed infrastructure at 90 sites that supports roughly 1,500 charge ports (reporting Q1 2020).
• Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), founded in 1978, is one of the preeminent environmental justice organizations in the nation.
• CBE’s mission is to build people’s power in California communities of color and low income communities - the organization’s youth and adult members meet weekly and are actively involved in scoping the pilot.

Due to COVID-19 impacts, the launch has been delayed.