Evie Carshare Program Shows Strong and Growing Use During the First Six Months in Saint Paul and Minneapolis
September 28, 2022 (Saint Paul, Minnesota) – Evie Carshare, the nation’s first 100% renewably powered, municipally-owned carshare network has logged nearly 25,000 trips by users in the first six months of operation, averaging more than one trip per vehicle each day.
According to HOURCAR’s recent report “Results from the First Six Months of Evie Carshare,” use grew rapidly and steadily from the launch in February through July. Evie Carshare, which currently has a fleet of 101 electric vehicles also:
- Reduced an estimated 741 metric tons of greenhouse gas,
- Recorded that 33% of the total Evie Carshare usage was by Access PLUS members – a qualified low-income rate plan for households earning less than 50% of Area Median Income, and
- Saved Twin Cities residents an estimated $2,572,752 in transportation costs. Based on the “Usage by Very Low-Income Households” analysis above, we estimate 33%, or $849,008, was attributed to users from very low-income households.
The EV Spot Network, a program that includes Evie Carsharing and 70 on-street public charging stations in the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, is still growing to its planned program levels. Supply chain issues have slowed implementation. By the end of 2023, the EV Spot Network is anticipated to be at full capacity with 175 electric vehicles for Evie Carshare and 280 level 2 charge ports, and 10 DC Fast Charge (DCFC) ports.
A map of all 70 EV Spot Charging locations can be found online here. As locations get installed and become operational, users can find active EV Spot Chargers at www.plugshare.com and on the Evie Carshare smartphone app.
The cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis will continue to monitor and report on use, and work with residents to ensure that Evie Carshare improves access, improves equity, and reduces pollution in our community.
About Evie Carshare
Evie Carshare is part of the EV Spot Network, which was planned and implemented through a public-private partnership that includes the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, HOURCAR, Xcel Energy, East Metro Strong, and the American Lung Association. Evie currently operates 101 electric vehicles in a home area covering 35 square miles in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, supported by a network of 71 carshare chargers with 142 Level 2 charge ports.
