Pilot Advances Transportation Electrification Partnership’s Bold 2028 Emissions Reduction Targets; Policy and Technology Innovations Include Curb Management, EV LastMile Delivery
SANTA MONICA, CA — Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) and the City of Santa Monica have officially launched and deployed a first-in-the-nation Zero Emissions Delivery Zone (ZE Delivery Zone) within a one-square mile voluntary zone by partnering with tech and delivery companies and community organizations. The concept for the Santa Monica ZE Delivery Zone was generated by LACI’s Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP). TEP includes local government officials, utilities, state regulators, automakers, industry leaders, labor, and startups working together to reduce air pollution in the greater Los Angeles region by accelerating transportation electrification and zero emissions goods movement in advance of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“With the explosion of last mile delivery of goods and food during the pandemic, the zero-emissions delivery zone in Santa Monica will help us both advance policy and technology solutions needed to reduce air & climate pollution, noise, and congestion while creating a blueprint for other cities to follow,” said Matt Petersen, CEO of LACI and Chair of TEP. “In addition to helping advance the bold goals of the Transportation Electrification Partnership, the pilot will also help unlock innovation from startup entrepreneurs, strengthen local small businesses, and grow the green workforce.”
“To reduce and ultimately eliminate our carbon emissions, we need to look at all aspects of thetransportation sector. This pilot with LACI will use smaller and cleaner technologies to deliver goods instead of the large diesel-fueled trucks we’re used to seeing on our streets,” said Santa Monica Mayor Sue Himmelrich. “Beyond reducing carbon and congestion, the added bonus is that restaurants can keep higher margins of sales on delivered food items. This is coming at a critical moment in our recovery and we look forward to new insights on zero-emissions delivery and the possibilities beyond our one square mile test zone.”
“As Nissan accelerates our journey to carbon neutrality, we are proud to build on our partnership with LACI to support Zero Emissions Delivery Zone pilots. This pilot comes at a critical time as delivery service continues to increase,” said Rachel Nguyen, Director of Nissan Future Lab and a TEP Member. “With the Zero Emissions Delivery Zone we will support local businesses and further our shared goal of reducing air pollution, GHG emissions, and improving safety.”
“At IKEA, we believe in a zero-emission transportation future. The Santa Monica ZEDZ pilot program will offer an opportunity to showcase the demand for zero-emissions delivery, and serve as an example to other retailers and cities looking for a model to replicate. Groundbreaking solutions begin with a simple idea, and we are excited to showcase these solutions with this pilot program,” said Steve Moelk from the Ikea Group.
What Others are Saying about the ZE Delivery ZoneSeveral other elected officials, major delivery partners, startup tech providers, and community groups also celebrated the launch of the ZE Delivery Zone–see what they’re all saying here.
Who is Participating in the ZE Delivery Zone so far?The pilot zone brings together over 15 partners including Ikea, Axlehire, Guayaki, Alsco Uniforms, Foodcycle, Shopify, and REEF Technology to voluntarily deploy and test zero emission modes for last mile delivery in Santa Monica’s Downtown, Main Street and Ocean Park neighborhoods. The tech providers include LACI startups Automotus, Maxwell Vehicles, Circuit, and FreeWire as well as collaborations with Coco, Kiwibot, Tortoise, Rollo, Blue Systems, Fluid Truck, Motiv Power Systems, Nissan, ROUSH CleanTech, and Lighting eMotors.
How will the ZE Delivery Zone Work?
To support the current pilot participants and encourage others to join, the ZE Delivery Zone will provide priority curb access for zero emission delivery vehicles in select loading areas in the zone. Technology from Automotus will: monitor and analyze all vehicle activity in each curb zone while protecting privacy; collecting anonymized data for studying impact on delivery efficiency, safety, congestion, and emissions; and making real-time parking availability data available to ZE Delivery Zone drivers.
How will the ZE Delivery Zone help Achieve TEP’s Targets?
To achieve the Zero Emissions 2028 Roadmap targets, LACI and TEP members–of which Santa Monica & Nissan are members–have advocated for policies such as zero-emissions zones, congestion pricing, & reducing vehicle miles traveled. To help reach these targets the Santa Monica ZE Delivery Zone will:
- Advance emissions reductions policies and tools: With growing diesel emissions from last-mile delivery vehicles as well as heavy duty drayage trucks moving the goods from ports to warehouses, the zone will provide insights for other cities, regulators, and industry leaders for zero emissions zones & reducing long-term exposure to pollution.
- Pilot curb management solutions: With up to 20 zero emission loading priority curb areas in the most congested core of the zone, zero emission delivery use, congestion, safety, dwell time and other metrics will inform future deployments of zero emissions zones and congestion pricing in Los Angeles and other urban centers.
- Demonstrate technology innovations: By deploying and demonstrating technologies needed for zero emissions delivery zones, Santa Monica and LACI will explore how best to meet operational needs, create local green jobs, and improve quality of life. Innovations will include:
- Multiple electric micromobility solutions or food and parcel delivery;
- Medium-duty and light-duty electric delivery vehicles for goods; and
- First-in-the-nation commercial medium-duty electric truck- sharing & charging available for local small businesses.
About the Zero-Emissions Delivery ZoneLACI and TEP issued an RFI for communities and neighborhoods across the County of Los Angeles, and the City of Santa Monica was selected as the Zero Emissions Delivery Zone partner. Over the last year, LACI staff and TEP (of which the City of Santa Monica is a member) worked with businesses, community groups, and other partners to develop the zone. The zone is a one-square mile area in the commercial activity core of Santa Monica. The zone is roughly bound by Wilshire Blvd on the north, Lincoln Blvd on the east, Dewey Street (City boundary) on the south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. The zone covers ZIP codes 90401, 90405, and 90403 and is home to 15,850 residents, and two primary commercial districts—Downtown Santa Monica (including Third Street Promenade) and Main Street—that together employ roughly 28,900 workers in a wide range of industries. These areas welcome millions of annual visitors, and are hubs of commercial, social and institutional activity, providing the perfect showcase for cities across the nation on how to adopt a zero emissions delivery zone. Learn more at https://laci.org/zedz
About LACI and the Transportation Electrification PartnershipThe Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator’s (LACI) mission is to create an inclusive green economy by unlocking innovation via startup incubation, transforming markets via catalytic partnerships like TEP, and enhancing communities via pilots and workforce development. Founded by LACI in May 2018, TEP is an unprecedented public-private partnership focused on accelerating reductions in climate and air pollution by pursuing bold targets, pilots and policies that are equity-driven, create quality jobs and grow the economy. TEP’s Roadmap 2.0 details these the partnership’s goals, including the target for 60% of all medium-duty delivery trucks on the road in LA County to be electric by 2028.
Images courtesy of LACI,