Playa Vista Takes Major Step in Becoming Neighborhood Electrical Vehicle Community of the Future
PLAYA VISTA, Calif.--May 29, 2002--Playa Vista has selected DaimlerChrysler , its Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) subsidiary and eMotion Mobility to develop what promises to become the most comprehensive zero-emission vehicle mobility system in the nation.
This precedent-setting program aims to have electric vehicles as the dominant mode of transportation at Playa Vista. The program envisions the wide use of an array of GEM neighborhood electric vehicles for passenger and utility purposes, as well as zero-emission trams to canvass the Playa Vista property and a fleet of electric city cars based on the MCC smart City-Coupe to be available on a per-trip basis for regional use by residents and business tenants.
The Playa Vista mobility program is designed to encourage carpooling, ridesharing, car-sharing, bicycling and the use of mass transit options to reduce vehicle emissions locally and throughout the region.
"Our vision is to have electric vehicles as the dominant form of transportation at Playa Vista," said Playa Vista President Steve Soboroff. "We want our residents to be able to keep their gas guzzler in the garage, and use electric vehicles for trips within Playa Vista and throughout the greater Southern California area. Our goal is for the place to be dotted not just with electric cars, but also with electric postal vehicles, flat-bed delivery trucks, and emergency vehicles," Soboroff added.
Playa Vista's mobility team will be led by GEM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler. Atlanta-based eMotion Mobility's role is to provide the telematics, management and reservation systems for the mobility program as well as the smart electric vehicles used in the car-sharing program.
The car-share system envisions a fleet of electric vehicles, accessed by Playa Vista residents and businesses, through an Internet reservation system or by calling a toll-free number. Neighborhood electric vehicles are expected to be available for sale to residents, with financing through home mortgages being one option under consideration.
"Electric vehicles are a part of cutting edge technology that provides smart alternatives and enhances environmental quality by reducing emissions that contribute to urban smog, air toxics and global warming," said Mayor Jim Hahn. "The City of Los Angeles is keeping up with this technology, with our electric vehicle program and electric shuttle. The City's environmentally responsible policies and visionary leaders like Playa Vista are demonstrating that technology is a powerful tool for developing sustainable communities. By investing in sustainability today, we are protecting our community for future generations."
"Playa Vista has come through admirably on the commitment I extracted from them years ago," said Los Angeles City Councilmember Ruth Galanter. "These electric vehicles and the leasing programs will make a major contribution to the larger community and add to Playa Vista's claim to become a model for future developments in Los Angeles."
Larry Oswald, vice president of DaimlerChrysler's Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Product Team and chief executive officer of GEM, said the mobility project is aimed at future technology applications by using existing systems. "GEM and DaimlerChrysler want to showcase current and future alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles in a real-world application. We're excited about the possibilities at Playa Vista," Oswald said.
Global Electric Motorcars, the largest U.S. producer of street-legal electric vehicles, has extensive experience working with planned communities around the United States. The GEM neighborhood vehicles have become a key mode of transportation in several locations around the nation, including DC Ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz., Celebration in Florida, and Bay Harbor in Michigan.
These vehicles have the track record of displacing many short trips traditionally taken with gasoline-powered vehicles. They are affordable vehicles that can be operated more economically than their gasoline counterparts while providing the environmental benefits of zero emission, quiet transportation.
"We are extremely proud that eMotion Mobility was selected to pioneer the car-sharing concept at Playa Vista," said John Wilson, president and CEO of eMotion Mobility. "We are happy that we can help broaden the acceptance of alternative fuel vehicles and provide a real-world laboratory for the development of the environmentally friendly transportation systems of the future."
eMotion Mobility LLC creates smart solutions for personal transportation through its state-of-the-art mobility systems. The company will offer commuters and others clean, quiet electric cars at mobility stations conveniently located near transit facilities, business centers and popular public areas on a pay-per-trip basis. eMotion Mobility is based in Atlanta and will produce eMotion electric vehicles at its production facility in Hinesville, Ga. For more information, visit www.emotionmobility.com.
Playa Vista is located on 1,086 acres between Marina del Rey, Westchester and Playa del Rey. The new Westside community will provide critically needed housing, commercial office space, neighborhood shopping and hundreds of acres of restored wetlands and parks. The project is committed to sustainable development, and has been recognized as one of five P.A.T.H. (Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing) communities in the United States.
