General Motors has provided a grant of $750,000 to a Colorado-based research firm called the Rocky Mountain Institute, which will be used to identify low-income communities in major North American cities that do not have access to EV charging infrastructure.
In a statement, RMI said the “grant will provide funding over the next year to support two key initiatives under RMI’s Carbon-Free Mobility Program.” The first of these initiatives is called ‘EV Charging for All’ and will “provide critical data, along with actionable analysis, for stakeholders, especially those in low-income communities, to accelerate access to clean, electric mobility options,” RMI says. The second initiative will enable RMI to “develop a streamlined permitting system for residential and public EV charging stations,” in order to “reduce time, and thus costs, for communities and infrastructure providers to obtain EV charger permits.”
Kristen Siemen, chief sustainability officer at GM, said this grant is indicative of GM’s goal of providing access to EV chargers to North Americans from all economic backgrounds.
“GM is committed to supporting accessible and affordable charging solutions that can help meet customers where they are. We understand the need to address charging deserts and other barriers preventing access to electric vehicles, including in ride-hailing and car-sharing services,” Siemen said. “RMI is closing the climate equity gap at the community level and helping pave the way for communities to experience the benefits of zero-emissions mobility.”
The cheapest electric vehicle currently offered by GM is the Chevy Bolt EV, which is priced from $32,495 including destination. A 2017 study conducted by Bankrate.com, which was cited by CNBC, found that in six of the 25 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, median income households could afford less than half the average new-car price. Both new and used vehicle transaction prices have also risen sharply in the four years since the study was conducted. So while this grant will help address EV charging access in low-income areas, automakers still have a significant amount of work to do with regard to EV affordability.
Regardless, RMI says the studies funded by the GM grant “will provide cost-effective pathways to bring EVs into low-income neighborhoods,” and support policymakers, utilities and private investors “in driving new investment into the market to benefit communities and the environment.”
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Comments
it’s amazing how such highly “educated” people can be this retarded.
Looks like some of those non-advanced types don’t like your comment.
This will be useful when the rich people visit low income communities.
😎
Read a survey only 3% of consumers want EVs. Amzing.
YOU CAN’T FIX STUPID! People living in low income areas ride buses, they don’t own cars unless they are many years old and cost less than $1000. These charging stations will be stripped of anything salvageable that can be turned into drug money. I know that sounds terrible but the truth hurts. I do know you’re not going to find a $60,000 Tesla parked there charging up for the next days run to the welfare office.
As General Burkhalter of Hogan’s Heros fame states: “How they be so Brainy and also so Dummkopf at the same time?”
they will be cutting off the cables to sell the copper
What a highly intelligent decision ! More government waste so they can claim they are “doing something” for the poor and make sure they vote Leftoid ! How many people in those “low-income” communities can actually afford a pricey EV ?
This is a grand idea. Not! If people in low income communities could afford an EV they wouldn’t be living in a low income community. That would be last place I’d want to have to stop for a few hours to recharge my vehicle. If it was a gas powered vehicle, I’d be in and out and back on my way in 5-10 minutes. Who thinks this stuff up anyway?
So many un-informed hot take comments. Geez.
So disadvantaged communities should not have the same access to electric infrastructure as other communities?
I think the uninformed would probably call you naive.
Sigh; this sounds as though my beloved gm has once again given in to another WOKE terrorist group. I’m sure that someone will be visiting all of those economically unfortunate area’s and telling gm “put on here”, “put a charger there”, etc. $750,000 bucks just doesn’t get the job done.
Guess they are getting the infrastructure ready in areas where all those unwanted Bolts will eventually end up.
Remember telephone booths in low income areas. Not one phone ever worked and gosh all the coin boxes were magically gone. Street lights never worked since the copper wiring was torn out. Expect the same working issue with the chargers but how else are you supposed to support low income areas if the thieves have nothing to steal and sell? Last point who in their right mind would stop in such a low income community to charge a vehicle and risk being assaulted or worse.
With housing prices as they are, not everyone in low income areas are that low income. And it’s fluid. Does gentrification ring a bell? The former low income communities are now hot properties. I know. I live in one.
Very unlikely that the low-income areas they are talking about includes very many people that own houses.
that’s an assumption and not a good one.
that’s an assumption and not a good one. So far, it’s just a study
Bet you don’t lock your doors right? Rather than gentrification ringing your bell how about your safety. Glad you made a choice where to live, not a good one but a choice.