Minnesota Car-Share Gets $500K to Add Electric Vehicles

A half-million dollar investment is about to put electric vehicles within reach of thousands more Minnesota residents who need wheels but can't afford to own them.

Hourcar, a nonprofit car-sharing service operating in Minneapolis and St. Paul, received $500,000 from Xcel Energy to expand its electric vehicle fleet this summer. The expansion will bring EVs to north Minneapolis and St. Paul's East Side, areas where affordable transportation options have been limited.

The timing couldn't be better. With federal EV tax credits ending and gas prices climbing, car ownership is getting more expensive for everyone. But Hourcar offers a different path: access to electric vehicles for just $7 a month for standard members, or $1 a month for low-income residents.

The numbers show how much communities rely on this service. Hourcar's membership has jumped 24% in the past two years to nearly 14,000 people. The nonprofit has facilitated more than 670,000 trips since launching 21 years ago, with 41% of those trips going to medical appointments.

"It's abundantly clear the community is relying on and is needing Hourcar," said Amanda La Grange, the organization's president and CEO. Nearly half of all trips are made by people with low incomes, showing the service fills a real gap.

The expansion will place vehicles near Gold Line bus stations and senior living centers in St. Paul, extending service north to E. Wheelock Parkway. In north Minneapolis, new cars will appear on Lowry Avenue between Penn and Monroe, with a new public charger at Lowry and Girard.

Hourcar offers two ways to use the service. Members can check out vehicles like the Nissan Leaf or Chevy Bolt from specific hubs and return them there, or make one-way trips and leave cars at approved parking spots. The nonprofit covers insurance and maintenance costs.

The Ripple Effect

This expansion creates ripples far beyond convenient transportation. Nearly 90% of Hourcar trips happen in electric vehicles, meaning each ride reduces emissions compared to gas-powered alternatives. That adds up quickly when you're talking about 191,600 trips in a single year.

But the environmental benefit is just part of the story. For families struggling with costs, eliminating car ownership can free up thousands of dollars annually in payments, insurance, maintenance, and gas. That money can go toward rent, groceries, or building savings.

The service also supports car-free living in urban areas, reducing the pressure to own multiple vehicles. Some members have sold their second car after joining, while others have avoided buying one altogether.

As electric vehicles become more mainstream, Hourcar is proving that the benefits of clean transportation don't have to wait for everyone to afford their own EV. Shared access can deliver those advantages right now to the people who need affordable options most.

With this expansion, thousands more Minnesota residents will be able to get to work, medical appointments, and family visits in clean, modern vehicles without taking on the financial burden of ownership.