OUR HOMES | OUR RIDES
HOURCAR Adds EV Car Sharing To The Twin Cities BY RANDY STERN | PHOTOS BY RANDY STERN While we have been one of the first demographic groups to embrace the electric vehicle, there are many of us who wished we had access to one. This is not just a chance to own one, but to experience one – at least. The Saint Paul-based non-profit car sharing organization, HOURCAR, came up with a solution that brings its members closer to experience an EV. They call it Evie. HOURCAR began as a program under the former Neighborhood Energy Connection in 2005. In 2017, HOURCAR spun off as its own nonprofit. Since then, HOURCAR expanded into Rochester in 2019. It is also the first carsharing firm to offer a program for low-income users to access their fleet. As part of HOURCAR, Evie began as a concept to “establish an electric carshare network with a focus on service to underserved communities,” according to James Vierling, the Head of Growth, Marketing, & Communications at HOURCAR. Through conversations with the City of Saint Paul, Xcel Energy, and eventual Continue on page 196
194
LAVENDER JUNE 2-15, 2022