The shift away from gas-powered vehicles towards e-mobility presents a unique opportunity to address transportation inequities that have long plagued under-invested neighbourhoods. E-mobility technologies offer increased connectivity to transportation networks, provide multiple options to accommodate transportation needs and financial circumstances, and lead to cleaner air and other public health benefits. If designed with equity at the fore, e-mobility programs can transform the way communities live, work, and play. (GridForward's 'Electric Mobility for All: Equity Best Practices for E-Mobility Planning')
1. What are you trying to achieve with this action?
- Increase people's transportation options, which has the economic benefit of providing access to a larger pool of jobs, as well as greater access to education opportunities and healthcare
- Provide more options for greener transportation, reducing traffic-related air pollution and noise, with resulting benefits to mental and physical health
- Initiate a modal shift away from single occupancy vehicles (SOVs)
- Ensure that the Active Transportation section of municipal climate plans specifically includes shared e-mobility options
2. Who has traditionally participated in/benefitted from this action?
- Middle and high income communities
3. What groups are most in need of this action?
- Traditionally under-served communities with little access to transportation options, including limited public transportation and limited charging infrastructure
- Those who cannot afford or don't wish to purchase an electric vehicle
4. What has prevented these groups from participating in the past?
- Lack of inclusion in decision-making processes
- Lack of information around e-mobility opportunities
- Lack of affordable e-mobility options (tied to lack of subsidies, rebates, and other cost-lowering supports)
5. What design can address barriers from those most in need of action or to increase wider participation? Barriers can be physical or perceived (perceptual/psychological)
- Ensure that small business owners and businesses owned by people of colour have opportunities to implement workplace charging programs
- Create e-mobility hubs that allow those who can't afford to own a vehicle to access the same benefits
- Create engagement, outreach, and consultation initiatives that are varied and inclusive and consider barriers to participation such as childcare needs, non-traditional work hours, language needs, etc.
- Ensure that charging stations are widely available, especially near homes and workplaces in equity-deserving communities
- Recognize that up-front costs of memberships, or the requirement of owning a debit or credit card may exclude people from participating in e-mobility sharing programs; take steps to lower the cost barrier as much as possible
6. Can you identify any negative impacts that this action may cause? Are there measures that can help to proactively prevent that harm?
- Risk of injury may increase for people with visual/auditory disabilities (implementation has lagged because of this)
- For e-mobility sharing programs, dockless programs have been an accessibility concern with e-mobility devices (mostly a concern related to scooter sharing services) being left in areas where people walk, etc.
7. Who hasn't yet been engaged that would be good to engage? Why would they be good to engage? What may limit their engagement interest/ability?
- LMI communities who cannot afford new EVs, and those with specific mobility needs
- Communities with limited or no personal charging infrastructure (affordable housing areas, lower income neighbourhoods, high-rises)
- EV training and maintenance education must include and be accessible to low-income neighbourhoods, communities of colour, and other underserved communities
For more key policy recommendations related to e-mobility strategies, see Sharing in Action: Micromobility in Local Climate Strategies.
Do you have additional suggestions for climate and equity synergies related to e-mobility plans & actions? Add them here.