The City of St. Louis has launched the St. Louis Vehicle Electrification Rides for Seniors (SiLVERS) program – an electric vehicle (EV) shuttle service that will provide non-emergency rides to elders, as well as distributing food to homebound seniors across the City.
SiLVERS was implemented by the advocacy group Forth, which serves historically underserved communities with technological solutions that offset fossil fuel-powered trips, in line with the City’s sustainability goals. Forth was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for Advanced Innovative Vehicle Technologies to fund the SiLVERS program, as St. Louis was one of 25 winners of the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge (ACCC).
“Vehicle emissions are problematic for people’s health and also contribute to the problem of climate change, and the City has launched a robust suite of vehicle electrification projects,” said Catherine L. Werner, City Sustainability Director. “In addition to resulting in fewer greenhouse gas emissions, electric vehicles emit fewer pollutants that contribute to poor air quality.”
The project is a joint effort by the local community partners Northside Youth and Senior Service Center (NYSSC), City Seniors Inc. (CSI), North Newstead Association (NNA), and the St. Louis Agency on Aging (SLAAA).
“The City of St. Louis is honored to be an instrumental partner on this innovative electric vehicle program focused on our seniors,” said City of St. Louis Climate Advisor Maurice K. Muia. “Not only does this programme align with our climate action and adaptation plan, but it ensures that we improve the lives of the most vulnerable. This program puts the City on a path to lower emissions, a better mobility experience, and lower operating costs. That is a win-win for the City of St. Louis and it makes us proud to lead in the Midwest.”