Los Angeles is serious about the future of electric vehicles and is installing infrastructure to create a city that facilitates the transition to EVs.
The American West Coast city of Los Angeles is pursuing sustainability via electrification of the transportation sector as part of their Sustainable City pLAn, which aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. So far, the city has installed 1,000 publicly available chargers and is one of the most EV-friendly cities in the USA. More than half of the municipality’s light-duty fleet is electric, and the city has piloted an EV car-sharing scheme to create equitable access to EVs and increase low-carbon mobility in low- and middle-income areas. This public sector investment is designed to spur private engagement and lead to a quarter of all vehicles being electric by 2035.
Los Angeles has also spearheaded an unprecedented aggregation of municipal demand across the USA with its recently released Electric Vehicle Request for Information. This initiative bundled demand for EVs from several cities in order to prove the demand for EVs and drive down prices. As of March 2017, the order stood at 114,000 vehicles with a total value of $10 billion.
64% reduction in CO2 emissions will result from a quarter of all vehicles transitioning to EVs
The challenge
Los Angeles experiences unhealthy levels of particulate pollution for the equivalent of nearly a month each year. Targeting the transportation sector provides immediate relief for LA’s most vulnerable residents on both a climate and public health level.
Co-benefits
Economic: The city is spending 35% less on maintenance for its EVs fleet compared to the fossil fuel counterparts.
Environmental: Los Angeles has avoided more than 1,300 tons of CO2 equivalent from city procurement of EVs alone, and the car-sharing pilot is expected to save a further 2,150 tons of CO2 equivalent per year.
Social: The power utility company offers up to $4,000 in rebates for EV charging infrastructure at commercial and multifamily locations, encouraging inclusive infrastructure investment.
About Los Angeles
Los Angeles is the cultural, financial, and commercial center of Southern California. With a U.S. Census-estimated 2016 population of 3,976,322, it is the second most populous city in the United States (after New York City) and the most populous city in the state of California. Nicknamed the “City of Angels” in part because of how its name translates from the Spanish, Los Angeles is known for its Mediterranean climate, ethnic diversity, and sprawling metropolis. Los Angeles is also famous as the home of Hollywood, a major center of the world entertainment industry.
