The City of Los Angeles officially ended its electric vehicle (EV) car sharing program for low-income residents, BlueLA, on April 20. Launched in 2018 as the nation’s first EV car sharing service targeting underserved communities, the program was shut down quietly, without public announcements.
According to a report by LA TACO, BlueLA was introduced in April 2018, with the city government promoting the initiative as a way to expand eco-friendly transportation and improve access for communities in areas with limited transit options. However, these goals were never fully realized, and the program was ultimately discontinued after seven years.
Unfulfilled Promises in South LA
In 2021, the city government pledged to install 20 EV charging stations and deploy 100 vehicles in South LA as part of BlueLA’s expansion plan. None of these installations were completed. Recently, the city council decided to reallocate the $1.5 million initially budgeted for the program’s expansion to fund an on-demand shuttle service in South LA.
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) cited repeated incidents of vehicle vandalism, theft, and persistent supply chain disruptions as key reasons behind the decision to terminate the program.
Persistent Operational Issues
While BlueLA initially received positive responses from residents for its low-cost service, the program was plagued by continuous technical and operational issues. Users frequently reported problems including app malfunctions, data breaches, and inadequate customer service. Despite ongoing demands for improvements, the program failed to present clear solutions, leading to mounting dissatisfaction from the community.
BY YOONJAE JUNG [jung.yoonjae@koreadaily.com]
