Center for Environmental Research & Technology

Riverside Launches Innovative Hydrogen-Powered Carshare Program for Cleaner Mobility

The City of Riverside, in partnership with Mobility Development Operations, the University of California, Riverside’s Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT), CALSTART, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and California Energy Commission, successfully launched the Riverside Clean Air Carshare (RCAC) program during a community event on April 28. The event, held at CE-CERT, marked the official debut of a hydrogen-powered carsharing fleet designed to provide clean, affordable, and accessible transportation in underserved areas of the city.

The RCAC program is a major step toward improving air quality and increasing equitable access to zero-emission vehicles. By addressing first-and-last-mile transportation gaps, the program enhances connections to public transit for communities that have historically lacked mobility options.

“This project is a great example of an exciting public-private partnership that will both serve the traveling public and provide important research data," said Dr. Matthew Barth, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education at UC Riverside’s Bourns College of Engineering. “CE-CERT is proud to support a program that directly benefits the Riverside community while advancing California’s climate goals.”

The event was held at CE-CERT and featured remarks from city leaders, program partners, and clean transportation advocates. Attendees explored the hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on display, participated in ride-and-drive experiences, and learned how the RCAC program fits into California’s broader climate and equity goals.
 

“This program is built to serve the communities that need it most,” said James Delgado, COO of Mobility Development Operations. “We’re making clean mobility something that’s not just talked about in the future, but used today—by real people, in real neighborhoods.”

A Milestone in Clean Transportation
The RCAC program leverages hydrogen fuel cell technology to offer a zero-emission alternative for everyday transportation needs. Designed with disadvantaged communities in mind, it empowers residents with an affordable mobility solution that supports public health and climate resilience.

“We’re building a transportation system that reflects our values: innovation, inclusion, and environmental responsibility,” Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said. “This program brings those values to life on our streets.”

Funding & Support
The Riverside Clean Air Carshare program is funded by the California Air Resources Board’s Clean Mobility Options (CMO) Pilot Program, part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment, particularly in underserved communities. Additional funding is provided by the California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program, which has allocated over $1 billion to accelerate zero-emission transportation infrastructure, in-state manufacturing, and workforce development.

Media Contact:
Phil Pitchford 
City of Riverside 
Public Information Officer
Main: 951-826-5553
Direct: 951-826-5975

ABOUT THE CLEAN MOBILITY OPTIONS PROGRAM: Clean Mobility Options (CMO) is funded by California Climate Investments and the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Clean Transportation Program. CMO, a California Air Resources Board and California Energy Commission project, is a statewide initiative that provides funding for zero-emission shared mobility options to under-resourced communities in California. CMO is available throughout California to all eligible disadvantaged and low-income communities and tribal governments to increase access to safe, reliable, convenient, and affordable transportation options. For more information, visit cleanmobilityoptions.org. 

ABOUT CALIFORNIA CLIMATE INVESTMENTS: California Climate Investments is a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in underserved communities.

ABOUT CEC’s CLEAN TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM: California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program is investing more than $1 billion to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission transportation infrastructure and support in-state manufacturing and workforce training and development.