Non-Profits and Town Use Grant to Start Electric Carsharing Programs and Expand Transit Service, Lorain County, OH 2021

As part of a $100,000 Paradox Prize grant, the City of Oberlin, the Place to Recover Training and Resource Center in Sheffield Township, and the Catholic Charities’ St. Elizabeth Center in Lorain have received a total of three Chevy Bolt electric cars for their residents and clients to use respectively. The Oberlin EV CarShare Program, supported by Sway Mobility, has a fleet of two electric vehicles that residents can borrow at a cost of $8 per hour. Chargers for both of the cars are stationed at their respective parking locations. The two charities, which serve people experiencing homelessness, reentering society after incarceration, or recovering from drug addiction, are sharing a vehicle for their clients to access medical and legal appointments, social services, housing interviews, and job interviews.

Oberlin is also using a portion of the Paradox Prize grant to fund a new bus route from Lorain County Transit called the Oberlin Connector. This bus route, which operates from 6 AM to 6 PM and 9:30 PM to 12:30 AM, Monday through Friday, is intended to connect Oberlin residents to other areas for jobs, like New Russia Township, Amherst Township, the City of Amherst, the City of Lorain, Sheffield Township, the City of Elyria, and Carlisle Township. A standard fare costs $2, with discounts available to people with disabilities, children, students, seniors, and veterans.

These solutions are implemented with the intention of improving mobility solutions across Lorain County. Specifically, the Chevy Bolt provided to the two charities is intended to connect clients to important resources who might not otherwise have easy access to a personal vehicle. Overtime, it will be important to determine if electric carsharing has a meaningful impact for Oberlin residents and people served by the two Lorain County charities.

Last updated July 27, 2021