How would you promote electric mobility with $25,000 from EWEB?

On Earth Day, EWEB will start accepting applications for its second annual electric mobility community grants.

How would you promote e-mobility with $25,000 from EWEB? Here are some ideas from the first six grant winners:

• Launch an e-bike lending program. Students and employees curious about e-bikes can try one for up to four weeks before deciding whether to purchase (University of Oregon).
• Launch an e-cargo bike lending program, showing how electric cargo bikes and trailers can replace trucks for making deliveries and hauling equipment (Shift Community Cycles).
• Use electric pedal-assist tricycles in maintenance and repair of the PeaceHealth Rides bike share fleet (Cascadia Mobility).
• Purchase two electric school buses (McKenzie School District, along with funding from other sources).
• Install Level 2 EV charging stations (Lane County Public Works).
• Install a free dual-pedestal Level 2 EV charging station this spring (Lane Community College).

Grants of up to $25,000 to promote electric mobility and reduce community carbon emissions are available to nonprofits, academic institutions, public organizations, and others pursuing e-mobility projects.

“Electric mobility continues to have barriers in accessibility, especially for traditionally underserved populations,” said Juan Serpa Muñoz, an EWEB business line manager who oversees EWEB’s electric mobility programs. “Through our community grants, we are able to put money in the hands of community agencies that are experts in the populations they serve and can help bridge this accessibility gap.”

Awards are intended to cover up to 100% of the eligible costs of studying, planning, promoting or deploying electric transportation technology and projects. EWEB gave special consideration to projects that would help promote electric mobility in underserved communities, including areas without ample access to public charging.

The grants are part of EWEB’s Green Options programs, which include a set of programs called Move Green that encourage and incentivize EWEB customers to adopt electric modes of transportation. Move Green programs include rebates for electric bikes and EV chargers, as well as an electric car sharing program.

EWEB began accepting applications for the first annual electric mobility grant program on April 22, 2022.

Ten proposals were scored on project feasibility, use of funds, innovation and analysis, social equity, and their education, environmental and community benefits. Originally, EWEB planned to award five grants, however, due to the availability of credits from the Clean Fuels Program and the added value these projects brought to the community, EWEB made the decision to award grants to six proposals.

“We will connect primarily with low-income communities. We hope to expand and show continued support for many years to come!” says Jim Nevada, president and founder of Shift Community Cycles.

“Efficiency and innovation are key to our work supporting and promoting active transportation in Eugene,” says Cascadia Mobility CEO Brodie Hylton. “EWEB’s electric mobility community grant will help Cascadia Mobility demonstrate what can be done with a trike, while reducing our need to use an internal combustion van. It’s only natural that a bike share should be operated emissions-free. Thank you EWEB!”

“The University of Oregon’s Transportation Services is grateful to have been awarded a $25,000 grant from EWEB to help launch our first-ever e-bike lending program,” says David Reesor, the director of Transportation Services. “We are striving to create a more sustainable future and this program is one way to help make this happen.”

“Developing a robust network of electric vehicle charging stations to support the adoption of EVs is one of the County’s top priorities related to the reduction of carbon emissions,” says Senior Public Works Analyst Nathan Mitchell-Hooks. “This project exists as part of Fleet’s efforts to electrify County-owned facilities in order to make EV charging more accessible for staff and the public.”

“Thanks to this grant award, Lane Community College, will be able to continue our ongoing work to advance and promote electric mobility,” says Luis Maggiori, sustainability coordinator at Lane Community College.

Funding for this program is in part made possible by the Oregon Clean Fuels Program, which is administered by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). This allows EWEB to promote clean electric transportation without impacting customer rates.

EWEB will start accepting applications for the 2023 Electric Mobility Grants on April 22. For more information, sign up at eweb.org/electric-mobility-grants.