The Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA), in partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the Electric Power Board (EPB), is pleased to announce an agreement with Green Commuter, which will create a new transportation alternative through an electric vehicle carsharing system in Chattanooga, Tenn.

“The agreement with Green Commuter is important because it allows CARTA to enhance public transportation options with the introduction of an electric vehicle carsharing system to benefit all Chattanoogans,” said Brent Matthews, CARTA’s director of parking.

With the completion of the first phase of this project, Chattanooga now has approximately 20 electric vehicle charging locations.The carsharing service is set to launch in about a month.

In addition, new solar power generation facilities are under construction; they will be integrated into the EPB power grid.

“We are excited to work with EPB, CARTA, and Green Commuter to bring solar-assisted electric charging stations and electric vehicle car sharing to Chattanooga,” said Cindy Herron, TVA’s vice president of Energy Right Solutions. “Electric vehicles and solar-assisted vehicle charging maximizes the benefits of clean energy, reduces emissions, and encourages solar power and electric transportation in Chattanooga.”

“Chattanoogans should be proud of this agreement because we are the first medium-size city in the nation to implement an electric vehicle car-sharing system to reduce emissions and traffic congestion," said Matthews. “In addition, data from this project will be shared with other communities to support similar electric vehicle implementations across the Tennessee Valley.”

To learn more and register, visit www.greencommuter.org/locations.