The donation of the brand-new Ford all-electric transit van and charging station happened at the Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation.
“This really ties into the work that we have done as an organization, NAACP, around environmental justice and climate issues.”
Cle Jackson is President of the Greater Grand Rapids NAACP. He says it’s not just about putting electric vehicles on the road, but about providing transportation to those most in need in the community.
“Residents that have issues related to economic sustainability and different things like that, so it will allow us to be able to even transport folks to work and a variety of other locations that they just wouldn’t have access to.”
The van can transport up to 10 individuals and is equipped to carry two wheelchairs.
“We have a deep commitment to help accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles.”
Lauren Snyder is Vice President of Customer Experience for Consumers Energy. She says this donation fits their goal of making electric vehicles more accessible to all communities.
“And what better way than to give them an EV transit to take care of all the things that they do for their members so that they can get a chance to experience what an EV looks and feels like, get more comfortable with an EV, so that they can see themselves driving an EV someday soon.”
