/ THE GREEN STANDARD
Electric Vehicle Charging Offers Gains Against Mobility Inequity By David J. Karwaski
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LECTRIC VEHICLES ARE HOT COMMODITIES THESE DAYS, evidenced by, among other
things, the huge number of new orders for the F-150 Lightning pickup truck and that the new Chevy Silverado electric pickup recently sold out in 12 minutes, according to the CEO of GM. In the past, most electric vehicle models have been priced at the higher end of the spectrum, more suited for higher-income groups than the average household’s income level. However, that situation is changing and lower-cost electric vehicle models are becoming more common. Several major automobile manufacturers have entry level electric vehicle models in the works or already on the street (think Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt). Midpriced models are popping up on the market, including Volkswagen’s ID.4 and Hyundai’s Ioniq Five. Even Tesla’s long-awaited, under-$30,000 vehicle is in development, with a small hatchback to be offered in 2023.
Parking and Mobility What does this mean for the parking and mobility industry? In one sense, it’s a reminder that we can be
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PARKING & MOBILITY / FEBRUARY 2022 / PARKING-MOBILITY.ORG
sustainable in our mobility choices and still enjoy the convenience and comfort of a private motorized vehicle. Sure, riding a bicycle or walking to your destination, or riding a bus, are very sustainable mode choices, however not everyone has those options or will choose to eschew driving. Even at UCLA, with our long-standing, successful transportation demand management program, our Sustainable Transportation Plan acknowledges that a large portion of our commuters—more than a third—will continue to drive to and from campus for the foreseeable future. Therefore, it makes sense to help enable as many of these commuters as possible to choose an electric vehicle.
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