Green Commuter will introduce its all-electric carsharing and vanpooling service in Los Angeles with a fleet of Tesla Model X vehicles.

Green Commuter's proprietary software will enable its fleet of all-electric seven-passenger SUVs to be used by thousands of workers to commute to and from their jobs during rush hour and will be offered as a carshare for all Green Commuter members the rest of the time, according to the company.

"Angelenos understand traffic and care about the environment,” said Gustavo Occhiuzzo, CEO of Green Commuter. “We offer a premium all-electric vanpool option that's affordable. Gasoline vanpool vehicles are very polluting, usually with ratings from 12 to 18 MPG in real-life driving conditions; we're the first to use only zero-emissions vehicles instead."

Occhiuzzo chose the Tesla Model X for the program because the all-electric vehicle meets vanpool criteria, including seating for seven passengers and a battery capacity sufficient for long-range driving.

"Our goal is to provide a great vanpool and carshare experience which is affordable, desirable, and sustainable,” said Occhiuzzo. “We're starting in Los Angeles, one of the most forward-thinking cities in the country, but one that has great environmental challenges and congestion issues. Our members will experience a better commute or a great carsharing experience in one of the most exciting, advanced cars on the road — the Tesla Model X — while reducing their carbon footprint and alleviating congestion on our roads."

Green Commuter is based at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), where it was selected to become a portfolio company in 2015.

"We're thrilled to mark this inauguration," said Fred Walti, president and CEO of LACI. "Green Commuter is a terrific example of an innovative social enterprise aimed at sustainable solutions for the transportation sector. We are proud to work with them and we look forward to the impact they will have on affordable green commuting in Los Angeles.”

With its Aug. 2 inauguration, Green Commuter will launch an Indiegogo campaign to offer its services at discounted rates: packages start at $10 an hour and $150 per weekend rental.

Vanpool users will be able to lease the vehicles on a monthly basis, with total commuting costs comparable to current vanpools that use standard vans or SUVs, according to the company.

"Green Commuter developed an app that enables the synergy between the vanpool and carshare systems that will dramatically increase the benefits for all users and maximize the use of the vehicles," said Occhiuzzo.