Stockton Car Sharing Service Provides Affordable Transportation to Low-Income Residents

The San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) has launched the Stockton EV Carshare Program to provide low-income residents with affordable access to zero-emission transportation. Funded by a $1.8 million grant from the California Air Resources Board, the initiative offers 17 electric vehicles for rent at rates as low as $4 per hour. This program represents a significant step in expanding EV accessibility to underserved communities while addressing environmental and mobility challenges in the San Joaquin Valley.

The Stockton EV Carshare Program, a partnership between the San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) and the 100% electric service Miocar, officially launched in December 2023. Supported by a $1.8 million grant from the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Clean Mobility Options program, the service provides 17 electric vehicles for low-income residents at budget-friendly rates of $4 per hour or $35 per day. The program's impact is already evident, with users completing 4,000 trips and covering more than 335,000 miles in 2024, demonstrating a strong demand for affordable, clean transportation alternatives in the region.

A key site for the program is Tracy Homes, an affordable housing complex for seniors where the poverty rate reaches 83% and public transit options are scarce. This neighborhood was selected due to its high levels of pollution and asthma-related health issues, as well as a community assessment by the Housing Authority of the County of San Joaquin (HACSJ) that identified affordability as the primary barrier to vehicle access. By placing EVs directly within these communities, the initiative aims to facilitate travel to job interviews, medical appointments, and schools, which SJCOG Executive Director Diane Nguyen notes is essential for maintaining a high quality of life.

The project relies on extensive collaboration between local agencies, including the cities of Stockton and Tracy, and academic partners like the University of California, Davis, which tracks the program's success and impact on resident behavior. Despite the logistical challenges of permitting and utility coordination for EV infrastructure, the SJCOG team is moving forward with expansion plans. By 2026, the program intends to install more charging equipment and deploy additional electric vehicles at several new locations, including the Oak Park Senior Center and the Fair Oaks and Arnold Rue libraries, ensuring the long-term sustainability of clean mobility in the area.