The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and its partners have launched Our Community CarShare Sacramento, an electric carsharing program serving disadvantaged communities.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) provided a $1.3 million grant through California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts cap-and-trade proceeds to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report by CARB.

The Sacramento Metropolitan AQMD was awarded the funding through a grant process.

“Our Community CarShare Sacramento provides access to clean, free transportation to residents of disadvantaged communities,” said Larry Greene, Sacramento AQMD’s executive director. “Mobility is vitally important in today’s economy, and bringing zero-emission transportation options to all residents is critical to protecting air quality and health.”

Our Community CarShare Sacramento provides residents of three Sacramento public housing complexes with free access to eight electric Kia Souls. Six of the vehicles will be parked at the residential communities while two additional vehicles will be available for reservation by registered users at the Sacramento Valley Station, according to the report.

Sacramento’s pilot program is the first zero-emission vehicle sharing program to launch in California.

“All Californians deserve to have access to the very cleanest vehicles, especially in the neighborhoods that need them the most,” said Mary D. Nichols, chair of CARB. “This investment is a triple play: It helps clean the air, fights climate change, and improves the quality of life for those who live in these communities. That’s a good use of cap-and-trade proceeds by any measure.”

Zipcar will power the reservation system and maintain the fleet of vehicles, according to the report. Our Community CarShare members can use the service for no cost.