Indianapolis Muses Solution to Failed EV Program, Asks for Help

Indianapolis’ electric car-sharing program, BlueIndy, died in May. Failed green initiatives are fairly common these days, but they remain an important exercise in finding out what works and what doesn’t in order for progress to be made. Unfortunately, that doesn’t preclude host cities from having to deal with the aftermath — and Indiana’s capitol now needs to decide what’s to be done with the EVs and their stations.

BlueIndy lasted four years, with the company announcing it was forced to cease operations because it “did not reach the level of activity required to be economically viable.” The plan was to provide an eco-friendly alternative to car ownership, though Indy citizens seemed less eager than their leadership. This has left the city with dozens of small, relatively new EVs waiting to be crushed and roughly 90 charging stations it has no idea what to do with.

Naturally, it’s asking for advice.

According to the IndyStar, the charging stations are still owned by parent Bolloré Group but are connected to the city’s electrical infrastructure and include about 400 parking spaces. Indianapolis has until September 21st to decide if it wants to buy the space or just let come what may. While the price point isn’t clear, it’s bound to be a sizable sum — even if BlueIndy’s seeking of greener pastures results in a sweeter deal than it would gotten otherwise.

“We continue to be mindful that the best solution may look different on a station by station or on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis,” Mayor Joe Hogsett said last week. “One size does not necessarily fit all.”

Turning those spaces back into public parking is probably desirable for the city, as it has relatively high vehicle ownership rates. However, if we’re still assuming EVs will become increasingly dominant, it might not be a bad idea to maintain a charging infrastructure that has basically fallen into your lap. Either way, Indianapolis will need to address its own needs — which is why it’s asking for help.

From IndyStar:

The city plans to solicit requests for information in mid-June on how to use the kiosks and charging stations above ground. The electrical infrastructure underground is owned by Indianapolis Power and Light, which the city also has been in contact with.

City officials say they want to consider all options in order to possibly take advantage of existing infrastructure.

BlueIndy has basically faulted Indianapolis residents for not getting with the program and left them with some parting thoughts as it refocuses on BlueLA — its Californian-based counterpart. “We believe that the continued reliance and predominant use of traditional personal vehicles is not sustainable long term in a growing urban environment and the need for additional mobility options to complement operators in Indianapolis including BlueIndy, IndyGo and the Pacers Bikeshare is significant,” the company said in its goodbye press release.

It also said that Indianapolis-based Bolloré Bluecars used for its services will be transported to LA after some repairs. Yet the glut we’ve seen amassed at Zore’s Inc.’s tow yard doesn’t seem to foreshadow anything more than the whole lot being crushed. You don’t stack cars three high if you plan on reusing them, and the relatively small urban fleet makes us doubt that these basic EVs all suffered irreparable damage. Many seem to have been in good working order upon their arrival and are only at the junkyard to be harvested for spare parts.

“Some of the cars with body damage are indeed being scrapped after the LMP batteries and key components/parts have been removed and stored,” James Delgado, vice president of Blue Systems, told local outlet WTHR. “[Other vehicles] are being held in storage and eventually will be shipped to Los Angeles.”

[Image: WTHR/ YouTube]