Santa Fe Standard

Santa Fe County has introduced an electric vehicle (EV) carshare program for its public housing communities. Implemented by the Santa Fe County Housing Authority along with Forth, PNM, and the Land of Enchantment Clean Cities Coalition, the program, named the Affordable Mobility Platform (AMP), is set to provide affordable transportation solutions at two locations: 52 Camino de Jacobo and 8 Las Lomas Drive.

The AMP program enables residents to lease all-electric cars for various activities such as errands and appointments. Users can book these vehicles using the MDO Carshare app for an hourly fee of $5, or a daily rate of $50, excluding taxes. Furthermore, on-site EV charging is part of the service. Eligibility for registration requires drivers to be at least 21 years old with a valid U.S. driver’s license and a clean driving record.

Transportation accounted for over 740,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in Santa Fe County in 2019, making it the leading source of emissions, surpassing other sectors combined. The AMP initiative aims to help frontline communities adopt cleaner transportation options and reduce the environmental and financial burdens of vehicle ownership.

" Our EVs are not only helping the environment, but they are also helping our tenants, and the Santa Fe community have access to transportation," stated Adrianna Velasquez, Deputy Director of Housing Operations.

Carsharing is presented as a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to vehicle ownership, eliminating the recurring expenses of maintenance and insurance. The use of electric vehicles further benefits the environment by reducing smog and carbon emissions.

Santa Fe County is prioritizing green energy, evidenced by plans to install 33 publicly accessible charging stations with $4.2 million in funding. These will be placed in key locations, such as community centers and affordable housing sites, from 2025 to 2028. Additionally, the county is moving towards an electric and low-carbon fleet.

Adrianna Velasquez acknowledged the contributions of partners in realizing the program: "We sincerely thank the Land of Enchantment Clean Cities Coalition, Colin Messer and Amy Miller, as well as PNM’s Alaric Babej, for their support in making the EV Carshare program a reality," she said. Special thanks were also given to Jacqueline Beam, the county's Sustainability Manager.

The community event featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for April 24, 2025, at 10:00 AM at 52 Camino de Jacobo, followed by an information session about the carshare app. Interested parties can reach out to Adrianna Velasquez for further details.

AMP, designed by the nonprofit Forth, aims to enhance EV access in underserved areas and plans to deploy 50 shared EVs by the end of the year. The project receives primary funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office.

Forth, dedicated to promoting clean transportation, can be found online at forthmobility.org.