Solar-powered EV carshare pilot launches in Massachusetts

A new low-cost carsharing program has launched in four Massachusetts communities, aiming to give lower-income residents access to electric vehicles. Called CommunityEV Carshare, the pilot offers discounted hourly EV rentals in Boston, Chelsea, Framingham, and Quincy, run through Zipcar in partnership with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. The project got its start with a $1 million grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

The setup uses four EVs — three Hyundai Konas and a Kia Niro — each paired with a solar-powered charging station from Beam Global. These stations have a solar canopy on a raised arm, so they don't need trench digging or a connection to the electric grid, which lets them get installed faster than typical chargers.

To make the cars affordable, Zipcar dropped its usual $25 application fee and cut the annual membership fee from $90 to $35 for this program. Rental rates are $11 an hour on weekdays and $13 on weekends, covering insurance and charging — well below the standard $14.50 to $17 hourly rate Zipcar normally charges. In Boston and Chelsea, the cars are open to anyone living in the public housing complexes where they're parked. In Framingham and Quincy, drivers need to show they already receive government assistance, such as SNAP or MassHealth, the state's Medicaid program.

The cars are already on the road, and organizers plan to track who uses them and how, hoping the data helps expand affordable EV access elsewhere.