Shift Magazine - October 7, 2019 - 17

corporate campuses. A single transit stop
in the area leaves prospective commuters
with a long way to walk to their jobs. If an
automated shuttle could connect the disparate parts to the transit stop, it seemed
like an opportunity to encourage use of
public transportation at a time when 83 percent of the city's commuters take singleoccupancy vehicles to work.
"Every vendor told us 'No way,' " Davis
said. "Because of the road conditions in
the area, because they needed to do a
left turn, because they were in an environment where people don't follow the speed
limit. They were like, 'It's not going to
happen.' So that was pretty eye opening.
We thought based on headlines and what
we're sold in conferences, these shuttles
can do anything. Which is just not true."
Columbus recalibrated. Shuttle-service
provider May Mobility launched a threemile circular route that links downtown
with parking areas across the Scioto River.
The six-seat electric vehicles are intended
to provide something like a last-mile link
between commuters and their jobs.
The pilot project was set to end last
month. In December, another autonomous
initiative will replace it. French shuttle provider EasyMile will begin service on routes

that link a transit center in the Linden neighborhood with St. Stephen's Community
House, a nearby nonprofit center.

ENCOURAGING ELECTRIC

When it came time to pursue their goals
of encouraging electric-vehicle adoption
in the greater Columbus area, city leaders
soon realized automakers were a potential
hurdle - they were largely reluctant to provide inventory in a state which didn't have
regulations that mandated zero-emission
vehicles or similar standards.
"One in particular was telling us, 'No
way, it's not going to happen, it's a compliance car,' " Davis said.
What Davis and others soon realized,
however, was the city had unexpected
allies in car dealerships. Approximately
two dozen dealers are official partners of
Smart Columbus. Some provide cars to
Smart Columbus as part of a test-drive
program that allows residents to get
acquainted with EVs. In return, the city
shares leads with the dealerships.
Early results are encouraging both city
and dealership leaders.
In perhaps one of its signature accomplishments, Smart Columbus says the
percentage of new EVs registered in

Franklin County, home to Columbus,
and six contiguous counties, has risen
from 0.37 percent to 2.34 percent of
total registrations since the city won the
Challenge - a six-fold increase.
Installing charging stations to support
that growing demand has been a central
focus. American Electric Power has worked
closely with the city on charging stations
and has targeted the installation this year
of 300 Level Two chargers and 75 DC fast
chargers at key public, workplace and multifamily locations throughout the city.

ADAPTING INFRASTRUCTURE

Helping connect vehicles to infrastructure has been another focus.
Smart Columbus has been working
with partners such as auto supplier Bosch
to install technology known as VehicleTo-Everything throughout the Linden
neighborhood, Ohio State University's
campus and along key corridors that can
alert drivers to real-time hazards.
One hundred roadside units are
expected to be installed at key intersections, while 1,500 to 1,800 vehicles will
have the equipment needed to receive
see COLUMBUS, p. 18

Columbus
beat 77 cities
from across the
United States to
win the federal
government's
Smart City Challenge
in 2016.

october 2019 * shift

Shift Magazine - October 7, 2019

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