SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Envoy Technologies, a provider of shared on-demand, community-based electric vehicles (EVs), today announced the first wave of live sites and vehicle deployments under the Electrify America Green City initiative in Sacramento called Sac-to-Zero. The companies joined Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg at an event to unveil the first EVs, and outline the vision for future development.
More than 20 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles are now available across Sacramento at over 10 multi-family properties, each with an accompanying Level 2 charging station. The majority of these sites are in disadvantaged communities where drivers can use the “Envoy There” mobile application to use vehicles for a myriad of uses, including personal errands or exploring job opportunities in new areas.
Envoy’s car share program is part of Electrify America’s $44 million investment in a comprehensive initiative, Sac-to-Zero, which is designed to shift mobility choice to electric mobility options. The initiative is intended to increase access to zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV) in the Sacramento area, expand ZEV technology use, and prepare the City for future electric vehicle adoption.
“We’re extremely proud to collaborate with Electrify America and bring this deployment to fruition only months after being announced,” said Envoy co-founders Aric Ohana and Ori Sagie. “With thanks to Electrify America, the City of Sacramento, and Mayor Steinberg’s office, we can offer drivers easy access to EVs, especially drivers from disadvantaged communities, where transportation options tend to be scarce.”
“The arrival of Envoy in Sacramento will give our residents who struggle to find reliable transportation an affordable, clean option for getting around,” said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “It’s another step in our City’s evolution into a national model of clean, shared mobility. We are thrilled to partner with Electrify America in this effort.”
The Sac-to-Zero initiative features two new car sharing services, new ZEV bus and shuttle routes and state-of-the-art electric vehicle charging systems throughout the Sacramento area.
“Envoy is the first of multiple zero-emission vehicle initiatives to be funded through our Sac-to-Zero investments,” said Rich Steinberg, Senior Director, Marketing, Communications and Green Cities at Electrify America. “We are excited to begin the rollout of this program in Sacramento and look forward to launching additional ZEV transportation choices for the residents of the Sacramento area.”
The full project is anticipated to be completed early in 2019. Envoy’s fleet will eventually feature more than 140 vehicles in over 70 different locations.
The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA), which was created to ensure the ongoing development of affordable housing in Sacramento, was an early collaborator with Envoy to help identify car sharing locations.
“The agency is excited about being one of the leading partners in this effort,” said Tyrone R. Williams, director of development, SHRA. “As the Housing Authority for the City and County we are committed to providing mobility options in public housing communities and to residents in underserved communities.”
For more info about Electrify America, visit: https://www.electrifyamerica.com/our-plan
About Sac-to Zero
The Sac-to Zero initiative is a coordinated effort between Electrify America, the City of Sacramento and strategic e-transportation partners that include Envoy, GIG Car Share, Sacramento Regional Transit, Yolo County Transportation District, Franklin Neighborhood Development Corporation and UC Davis. Sac-to Zero programs aim to accelerate the use of shared “clean mobility” transportation such as electric vehicles, electric shuttles and other modes of ZEV mobility for Sacramento-area residents and visitors.
About Envoy Technologies
Envoy Technologies, a Culver City-based provider of turnkey electric vehicle car-sharing services, offers vehicles where people live, work and stay (i.e. apartments, student housing, office campuses, co-working spaces, hotels). Envoy equips real estate owners and operators with a new and innovative way to enhance the lifestyle of their tenants, members and guests by providing mobility as an amenity. Learn more at https://www.envoythere.com/.
About Electrify America
Electrify America LLC, which is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, will invest $2 billion over the next 10 years in Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure and awareness. The investment will enable millions of Americans to discover the benefits of electric driving and support the build-out of a nationwide network of workplace, community and highway chargers that are convenient and reliable. For more information, visit www.electrifyamerica.com.
