LA Finds New Way to Car and Van Share

Car sharing is taking a whole new ride as Green Commuter rolls out its offering consisting of a vanpool and car share service with a fleet of Tesla Model X vehicles.

Here’s the plan: Green Commuter’s software will enable its fleet of all-electric seven-passenger SUVs to be used by thousands of workers to commute to and from their jobs during rush hour and offered as a car share for all Green Commuter members the rest of the time.

“We offer a premium all-electric vanpool option that’s affordable. Gasoline vanpool vehicles are very polluting, usually with ratings from 12 to 18 MPG in real life driving conditions, we’re the first to use only zero-emissions vehicles instead,” said Green Commuter CEO Gustavo Occhiuzzo.

The company, based at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), got real liftoff when it was selected to become a portfolio company in 2015. Noted LACI President and CEO Fred Walti. “Green Commuter is a terrific example of an innovative social enterprise aimed at sustainable solutions for the transportation sector. We are proud to work with them and we look forward to the impact they will have on affordable green commuting in Los Angeles.

Simultaneous with its August 2nd inauguration, Green Commuter will launch an Indiegogo campaign seeking to offer its services at steeply discounted rates, so as to jump start the Green Commuter community. Packages start at $10 an hour and $150 per weekend rental.

Vanpool users will be able to lease the vehicles on a monthly basis, with total commuting costs comparable to, and, in many cases cheaper than, current vanpools that use standard vans or SUVs.  Currently there are more than 1,500 vanpools with a destination point in Los Angeles County, and there are about 3,000 vanpools across the Greater Los Angeles region.

Category: General Update, Green