We’ve reported on Indianapolis’s BlueIndy electric vehicle carsharing service several times in the past — since well before the service even launched, actually. To date, the program appears to be quite a success, but as I don’t yet have personal experience with it, there are still some unknowns for me.
With that in mind, it seems worth directing some people to a new video put together by Consumer Reports on the subject, which also discusses the city’s recent efforts to use more electric vehicles (EVs) in its municipal fleets.
“The city that is famous for auto racing is taking major steps to encourage carsharing that is gas-free,” stated Shannon Baker-Branstetter, energy policy counsel for Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy division of Consumer Reports, as quoted in a recent email sent to CleanTechnica.
“Transportation is the last discipline where oil is used at the level it is,” commented former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, one of the main drivers in the effort to expand EV programs throughout the city. “If we tamp that down to a certain level, we change the world.”
While I don’t completely agree with that, I can appreciate the sentiment. And there’s no doubt that the transportation sector is one where great ingenuity will be needed to shift away from fossil fuels significantly, so that enthusiasm is welcome.
The recent email provides some further background on the BlueIndy program, noting that it’s “gaining a popular following, with over 2,100 residents signing up as subscribers.” I wonder how many subscribers it will have in 5 years. “BlueIndy currently has a fleet of over 250 vehicles with a goal of expanding to 500.”
Baker-Branstetter added: “More and more Americans are starting to explore whether electric vehicles are right for them. Programs like BlueIndy and greater EV fleet adoption are good examples of how cities can give consumers more experience with the technology while at the same time slashing fuel consumption, saving taxpayer dollars on fuel costs, and improving air quality.”
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