car2go Partners with State of Texas on Urban Mobility Pilot

[MBFanToDeath]

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Austin, TX, Mar 29, 2010

car2go, Austin’s new mobility program, announced today a new six month pilot partnership with the State of Texas that gives state employees access to the car sharing program and parking spots located at the Capitol Complex. The agreement, signed with the Texas State Preservation Board (SPB) and the Texas Council on Competitive Government (CCG), is a major step in finding new transportation solutions for the State of Texas while extending car2go’s presence in Austin.

“car2go is pleased to partner with two agencies that are committed to the preservation and effectiveness of the State of Texas,” said Nicholas Cole, CEO of car2go North America. “This partnership will allow car2go to expand our downtown Austin presence near the Capitol while allowing thousands of visitors and residents to see the State’s commitment to alternative transportation solutions.”

The pilot agreement is similar to the partnership between car2go and the City of Austin that started in November 2009. car2go members will be allowed to use on street parking at the Capitol complex at the north end of downtown Austin.

In return for the provided parking, car2go is paying a usage fee to the State of Texas in the form of free driving minutes for SPB and CCG employees driving on State business. Additionally, all state employees can participate with a personal membership immediately, and any state agency can open a car2go company account and drive at standard rates.

“We are very excited to partner with car2go in this innovative program,” said John Sneed, executive director of the State Preservation Board. “If this pilot project is as successful as we believe it will be, this program offers a great opportunity for the state to realize long-term cost-savings.”

Partnering with SPB and CCG will benefit car2go members in several ways: the pilot agreement will secure additional downtown parking for car2go vehicles and increase the program’s visibility in the Capitol area. Furthermore, it provides State of Texas employees access to the program, not only for business but also for private use.

The State of Texas will also benefit from partnering with car2go: car2go substantially reduces CO2 emissions by using the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid vehicle in the United States, which will help the State reduce its carbon footprint . The partnership will also allow state agencies to experience the efficiency and viability of car2go to determine how car2go can help reduce the need for a large fleet of state vehicles. Finally, the pilot partnership will benefit the State, the City of Austin and surrounding areas by reducing traffic volume.

“The Council is on the lookout for innovative services for the State of Texas,” said Dustin Lanier, staff director for the Council on Competitive Government. “car2go fits the bill with an innovative business model that has a good chance to be a part of the state fleet solution. We look forward to getting the program underway.”

About the State Preservation Board (SPB)

The State Preservation Board (SPB) is responsible for preserving and maintaining the State Capitol, the General Land Office Building and the Governor’s Mansion and their grounds for the benefit of the citizens of Texas. The SPB operates the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum and provides educational programs centered on Texas history. The SPB also operates and maintains the Capitol Visitors Garage and parking meters in a 36 square block area of the Capitol Complex. More information can be found at The State Preservation Board - Caretakers of the Texas Capitol.

About the Texas Council on Competitive Government (CCG)

In 1993, the Texas Legislature created the Council on Competitive Government (CCG) in response to a growing interest in making government more efficient, cost-effective, and competitive. The Council represents key members of state leadership, with the statutory empowerment to drive fundamental change. The Council on Competitive Government exists to advance government transformation efforts in the state of Texas. Government transformation efforts are projects that reexamine the method of delivering services in ways that improve efficiency, effectiveness and results that are relevant to citizens. The CCG consists of the following seven council members: Governor Rick Perry (Council Chair); Comptroller of Public Accounts Susan Combs; Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst; Speaker of the House of Representatives Joe Straus; Texas General Land Office Commissioner Jerry Patterson; Commissioner of Labor from the Texas Workforce Commission Ronald Gene Congleton; and Texas Facilities Commission Executive Director Terry Keel. More information at: Texas Council on Competitive Government

About car2go NA, LLC

car2go is an innovative mobility program with its North American headquarters in Austin, Texas. car2go revolutionizes urban transportation by offering an extensive fleet of environmental-friendly smart fortwo vehicles available to rent “on demand”. Unlike other car sharing programs members may use the vehicle for as long as they like, without committing to a specific time to return the vehicle. Members can finish their rental in any designated car2go parking spot or any available public parking space within the defined business area. Launched in November 2009 in Austin, TX as a Daimler pilot project, car2go has established several pilot partnerships and will be opened to the general public in the course of 2010. For more information on car2go please visit us at: Welcome to car2go

© 2010 The World Of Mercedes-Benz /////AMG. All rights reserved.
© 2010 Daimler AG. All rights reserved.

Source: The World Of Mercedes-Benz /////AMG

 

[Wolfgang]

car2go comes to Vancouver

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[Wolfgang]

car2go comes to Stuttgart in 2012

starting with 200 smart electric drives

Das Blog um die Leidenschaft Mercedes-Benz & Daimler

 

[Wolfgang]

electric car2go Amsterdam

300 all-electric Car2Go carsharing vehicles coming to San Diego this fall

Using 300 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive vehicles, Daimler's Car2go carsharing program will expand to San Diego, CA this fall. The program – using standard, gasoline-powered Fortwos – already exists in Austin, TX and Vancouver, BC and in some European cities (Amsterdam, for example, will be getting the Fortwo ED Car2go experience before the end of the year). As you might already know, the basic gist of Car2go is that the Fortwos are parked in an urban area and program members can hop in any available vehicle and pay a per-mile fee (in Austin, it's 35 cents) to go anywhere within the predetermined "geofence." Once at his or her destination, the driver simply locks the car up and walks away. It's the K.I.S.S. way to car share.

The all-electric Fortwos that will be used in San Diego have "high-efficiency lithium-ion batteries" that can go around 84 miles before needing a charge. And, given the use pattern for car sharing – Daimler says that "the daily stretch covered by car2go drivers in urban areas rarely exceeds 6 miles" – and the fact that fast charging can get the packs from 20 percent to 80 percent full in three-and-a-half hours, it'll be interesting to see how often these cars are actually recharged. Car2go's partner in San Diego is ECOtality, which will install around 1,000 Blink chargers throughout the city by the end of the year. We'll have more from San Diego soon. Until then, you can read this detailed post on how Car2go works in Austin.

300 all-electric Car2Go carsharing vehicles coming to San Diego this fall - Autoblog

 

[Wolfgang]

electric car2go Amsterdam

PRESS RELEASE

car2go Announces First All-Electric Carsharing Fleet in North America

• car2go to introduce first North American all-electric carsharing program in San Diego

• 300 zero-emission smart fortwo electric drive vehicles arrive in San Diego by the end of 2011

SAN DIEGO - car2go N. A. LLC, a subsidiary of Daimler North America Corporation, announced that San Diego will be the first North American city to have a 100-percent electric vehicle (EV) carsharing program. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, Nicholas Cole, President and CEO of car2go N. A. LLC, and Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOtality, made the official announcement at a news conference at the El Cortez this morning.

"We're proud that car2go has chosen to launch the first North American all-electric carsharing service in San Diego," said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. "car2go's launch here further supports our efforts to make San Diego the nation's electric vehicle capital."

The all-electric car2go program in San Diego is going to start operations before the end of 2011 with 300 smart fortwo electric drive vehicles.

"The launch of an all electric vehicle fleet marks a new era in carsharing in North America," said Nicholas Cole, President and CEO of car2go N. A. LLC. "San Diego is a forward-thinking city determined to meet future transportation demands of its residents. Our goal is to complement the existing transportation infrastructure by providing an emission- free carsharing service for short and spontaneous one-way trips."

All smart fortwo electric drive cars will be equipped with the latest car2go telematics technology, allowing fully automated, easy and convenient rental operations. As the world's first free-floating carsharing service, car2go provides its members with the possibility to rent the cars spontaneously without having the burden to commit to a specific return time or location.

The car2go program is already very successful in four cities with a total of more than 40,000 members and 1,000 smart fortwo vehicles with low-emission gas engines.

Right from the beginning, the smart fortwo was designed for electric drive and that now shows," says Dr. Annette Winkler, Head of smart. "I love driving the smart electric drive and I am convinced that the car2go members in California will enjoy using this forward technology to get around their home town San Diego - a new method of transportation both pleasing to the ear and the environment."

The smart fortwo electric drive is powered by a 30 kW electric propulsion system. It is economical, quiet and emissions-free. In San Diego, the high-efficiency lithium-ion batteries can be recharged at designated EV charging stations. On a single charge, the car can travel up to 84 miles. Battery recharging time from 20 percent to 80 percent of battery full capacity is just three and a half hours. Recharging a completely discharged battery takes no more than eight hours, which makes it possible to recharge overnight. Past experience shows that this is seldom necessary, as the daily stretch covered by car2go drivers in urban areas rarely exceeds 6 miles.

"By being the first to make an all-electric network of vehicles easily accessible for thousands of people, we are revolutionizing carsharing and creating the future of the urban transportation," says Cole.

The electric car2go vehicles will be charged at Blink EV charging stations developed by California-based technology provider ECOtality. The company is currently in the process of siting and installing the charging stations, and approximately 1,000 Blink commercial charging stations are expected to be installed by end of 2011 for public use in San Diego.

"Innovative carsharing programs like car2go's service are pivotal to encouraging the mainstream adoption of electric vehicles," said Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOtality. "As we deploy approximately 1,000 Blink charging stations in the San Diego region as part of The EV Project, we are creating the robust public infrastructure necessary for car2go's program to succeed. Together, we will show that EVs are a perfect fit for the lifestyle of San Diego drivers."

The electric car2go service in San Diego will be operated by car2go N. A. LLC. Further details of the service such as business area, parking and charging concept as well as start of customer registrations will be announced in the near future.

car2go – A Different Way to Carshare

A subsidiary of Daimler, car2go is an innovative mobility solution redefining individual transportation in rapidly growing urban areas by offering a fleet of several hundred environment-friendly smart vehicles for rent. It provides an innovative mode of "on-demand" transportation which compliments existing public transportation alternatives by bridging the gaps commonly associated with the "first and last mile" of a public transit commute.

car2go is currently operational in four cities: Austin, Texas; Vancouver, British Columbia; Hamburg, Germany; Ulm, Germany. Unlike traditional carsharing programs or car rental companies, car2go is not station-based. car2go vehicles are located throughout the city and can be accessed "on-demand" or reserved in advance. The members may use the vehicle for as long as they like, without committing to a specific return time or return location. Charges are based on minutes used and include fuel, insurance, parking and maintenance.

The innovation and environmental sustainability of car2go has earned international acclaim: In September 2010, car2go was recognized by the Austin Chamber of Commerce with the "2010 Greater Austin Business Award" for its positive impact on traffic in the city. The same month, car2go received the "Clean Tech Media Award" in the category of "Mobility" in Berlin. In May 2010, car2go was honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with its prestigious "2010 EPA Clean Air Excellence Award." Further information on car2go is available at Welcome to car2go and List View | Daimler Global Media Site > Mercedes-Benz Cars > smart > car2go.

 

[Wolfgang]

We're proud that car2go has chosen to launch the first North American all-electric carsharing service in San Diego," said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. "car2go's launch here further supports our efforts to make San Diego the nation's electric vehicle capital."

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...sharing-fleet-in-north-america-125505738.html

 

[kenai]

hi wolfgang. nice idea , but i wonder how or who or when the car battery gets recharge ? do you know.?

 

[Wolfgang]

hi wolfgang. nice idea , but i wonder how or who or when the car battery gets recharge ? do you know.?

plug the smart in when done

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Jerome Guillen (now at Tesla)

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[Wolfgang]

car2go comes to Portland, Oregon on March 31, 2012.

car2go launches in Portland with 200 cars on March 31, 2012

BY STEVE LAW -- The Portland Tribune

Daimler will launch a new car-sharing service similar to Zipcar in Portland on March 31, starting with a fleet of 200 company-owned cars. It’s called car2go. Car-sharing is a decentralized form of car rentals, with customers picking up a car parked in their vicinity. The industry was born in Portland with the 1998 creation of Car Sharing Portland by Dave Brook. That company was eventually absorbed into Zipcar.

Customers of car2go can pay to use the company’s fleet of cars by the minute, with no minimum time needed. The company already operates in nine cities, and is expanding into the Portland and Washington D.C. markets in March.

https://www.car2go.com/en/portland/

PS. Portland pricing will prob be standard: Registration is $35, per minute 35 cents, max for one hour is $12.99, or $65.99 per day.
Currently roughly 70,000 folks use car2go every day.

 

[Wolfgang]

Hmm.

Cold days spell bad news for Car2Go drivers in Calgary, say customers

Some customers say they have run into some problems with a popular car sharing service in Calgary, especially in cold weather. Car2Go has become popular across the city after opening for business last summer.

For a one-time membership, drivers can take any of the company's small, white and blue SMART cars available around the city for a small flat rate and leave it in any public parking spot at no extra cost.

But some customers, including Arielle Land, say they've run into a few glitches when it gets cold.

"Car2Go is an amazing idea when it works," she said. "And it can be convenient, it can be environmentally efficient, but if you're relying on it, you could have some frustrations with it."

Land says she's had a few problems with the card reader and touch pad in the car on cold days.

The company says it hasn't seen widespread problems because of the cold and encourages customers to contact them with any concerns.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2013/02/01/calgary-car2go-problems.html
https://www.car2go.com/en/calgary/
https://www.facebook.com/car2go.calgary

 

[Wolfgang]

Car2go car club heads to Birmingham
http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php/2013/02/14/car2go-car-club-heads-to-birmingham/

 

[Wolfgang]

Car2go comes to Milano.

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https://www.car2go.com/en/milano/

http://www.benzinsider.com/2013/08/smart-car-sharing-milan-gets-car2go-service/

 

[Wolfgang]

San Francisco is blocking the most innovative transportation company

Car2go not only meets the policy objectives, it meets them better than any of the traditional models. It’s a shame that a city that claims to be innovative can’t see this sort of revolutionary innovation.

http://venturebeat.com/2013/07/15/s...g-the-most-innovative-transportation-company/

 

[Wolfgang]

CAR2GO starts in Columbus and Toronto. Columbus is the 9th city in the USA, Toronto the 4th in Canada.

http:///2013/10/car2go-kommt-nach-montreal-und-columbus/

car2go gets Columbus going

car2go gets Columbus going: The Discovery city is overflowing with creativity and innovation. car2go is everywhere: from Clintonville to Merion Village, from Franklinton to Olde Towne East with 250 vehicles, which are always ready to go. For as long and as often as you want. No fixed rental stations, but plenty of benefits for your budget and the environment. Are you ready to get going in Columbus again?

Columbus ---> https://www.car2go.com/en/columbus/
Toronto ----> https://www.car2go.com/en/toronto/

 

[Wolfgang]

car2go San Diego kills electric smarts, replaces them with gas.

Want to go father for less? Of course you do!

When we launched car2go San Diego in 2011, we were excited to make San Diego the first city in America with a fully electric (EV) carsharing fleet. Our bold decision to go 100% EV was based on the Department of Energy's commitment to install 1,000 Blink charging stations through a company called ECOtality by the end of 2011. Unfortunately, that just didn't happen. Not even close.

ECOtality went bankrupt in 2013, and despite efforts by the City of San Diego to encourage additional charging stations, we've all been left with inadequate EV charging infrastructure in San Diego that makes it very difficult to maintain an EV fleet. For that reason, as of May 1, we are replacing our San Diego EV fleet with the same internal combustion smart fortwo car2gos used by hundreds of thousands of members in our 12 other North American locations.

We at car2go want to show how much we love you and all of San Diegan members! Beginning May 1, San Diegan members like you will pay just $0.19 per minute (regularly $0.41) or $65 per day (regularly $84.99) to drive*. This reduced pricing will be in effect for the rest of 2016, making it even more affordable to use car2go to get around.

Why we are making this change:

To date, only 400 of the 1,000 Blink charging stations promised by ECOtality have been installed, and just 126 of those stations actually fall within the car2go Home Area used by you and your 40,000 fellow San Diego members.

When fully charged, an EV car2go can travel 65 miles max. Our internal combustion car2gos can travel up to 342 miles on a single tank. These new vehicles will make all-day trips possible in ways our EV fleet couldn't because of the lack of charging stations.

Why you'll love the new fleet:

Internal combustion car2gos can make an average of 50 member trips before needing to be refueled, compared to just 10 trips for EV car2gos.

In San Diego, 20% of the EV car2go fleet, on average, is unavailable for use simply because it is being charged or because the charge is too low to be driven. That is over twice as high as the unavailability rate in any of the 12 locations with a fleet of internal combustion car2gos.

An EV car2go takes 6-8 hours to charge. With internal combustion car2gos our dedicated fleet team can get our vehicles topped up with fuel and available for you to use in just 5-10 minutes. That means more car2gos will be ready for you to drive all around the city so you can find a one where you need it, when you need it.

While car2go remains committed to EV mobility, the car itself is one piece of a larger EV puzzle. We would be happy to reconsider an all-EV fleet here once the infrastructure is in-place to support it and we are confident that an EV fleet can deliver the kind of mobility you deserve.

Meanwhile, we know you're going to love the benefits the new fleet will deliver for nearly half the price from May 1st to the end of this year!

Questions? Please feel free to email us directly at memberservicesNA@car2go.com or give us a call at 877.488.4224.

Thank you for your membership and continued support.
Your car2go San Diego Team

*Taxes and fees apply.

 

[Wolfgang]

car2go starts in Chongqing, China.

car2go startet in Chongqing/ China - Mercedes-Benz Passion Blog / Mercedes Benz, smart, Maybach, AMG