New 100% Electric Carsharing Service Provides Practical & Affordable Transportation Options for SJV Residents

New 100% Electric Carsharing Service Provides Practical & Affordable Transportation Options for SJV Residents

Posted on July 11, 2019

NEW 100% ELECTRIC CARSHARING SERVICE PROVIDES PRACTICAL AND AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY RESIDENTS

Pre-launch events invite residents to preview vehicles and learn more

Tulare County— Tulare and Kern counties have a new innovative service called Miocar— a 100% electric vehicle carsharing service providing rural San Joaquin Valley residents affordable access to vehicles that can be rented on an hourly or daily basis online or via a smartphone mobile app.  Miocar gives licensed residents an easy and flexible transportation option for running errands, getting to medical appointments, job interviews or other daily needs.

 

A significant portion of the San Joaquin Valley’s four million residents live in rural areas. Long-distance travel is a constant challenge for many living in these communities. Miocar was created to bridge significant transportation access gaps, supplement the available transportation options in rural areas and offer residents easier mobility. “I loved the convenience of using Miocar,” said Laura Aguilera from Dinuba. “It was fun to drive and very easy to get in and out of, even with car seats for my kids, making emergency trips to the store easy and enjoyable.”

 

In addition to the convenience, Miocar uses 100% electric vehicles, which help reduce air pollution by emitting less greenhouse gas compared to conventional vehicles. Miocar is an affordable option for those affected by rising gas prices, making every-day trips less expensive. This service has rates of $4 per hour or $35 per day ($45 per day on weekends) generally with the insurance and car maintenance included in the rates. Residents without a personal vehicle and who rely on public transportation services could use Miocar as a supplement to get to destinations outside of fixed transit routes.

 

“Whether you are a parent who uses the only car for work, leaving the rest of the family in need of a second vehicle during the day or if you don’t own a vehicle and need one for an out-of-town appointment— this service can help,” said Abigail Solis, Community Development Manager for Self Help Enterprises (SHE). “We are excited to provide rural community residents with another option to meet their transportation needs.”

 

Anyone wanting to use this service can download the Miocar smartphone app available on the Apple App Store or Google Play to start the process. The vehicles are parked at charging stations installed at SHE residential complexes in Dinuba, Orosi, Visalia, Wasco and Arvin, where they are available to reserve and pick up 24/7.

Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) and the California Vanpool Authority are both operating partners of Miocar. SHE is providing the space for charging stations at several of SHE’s rental communities while California Vanpool Authority is providing fleet management, repairs and more.

 

ABOUT MIOCAR

Miocar, the all-electric vehicle carsharing service, is made possible through grant funding from the California Climate Initiative, a program of the California Air Resource Board (CARB) and administered by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.   Operating partners include Self Help Enterprises, California Vanpool Authority, and Mobility Development Fresno. The pilot is designed by UCDavis Transportation Institute and administered by Sigala Inc.

 

ABOUT SELF HELP ENTERPRISES (SHE)

SHE is the pioneer and leading provider of mutual self-help housing in the United States and their efforts today encompass a range of programs to build better homes and communities for low-income families. Since 1965, SHE has helped more than 6,200 families to build their own homes, rehabilitated over 6,300 unsafe homes, developed over 1,400 units of affordable rental housing and has provided technical assistance for reliable access to safe drinking water and sanitary sewer infrastructures to more than 160 small communities.

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA VANPOOL AUTHORITY (CALVANS)

CalVans is a public transit agency with a fleet of over 800 vanpools comprised of eight and 15 passenger vans. The agency was formally established as a Joint Powers Agency in January 2012. CalVans has close relationships with local, state and federal agencies in promoting vanpools and ensuring riders have a safe and cost-effective way to work. CalVans also provides limited operational support to Miocar, providing fleet management including fleet repairs, preventative maintenance, and washing and cleaning of vehicles.

 

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