Car2go: A micro hybrid can be Smart
Pay as you go car sharingDaimler has picked Austin, TX as the first US city to try its Car2go pay-as-you-go city transportation program.
Under Car2go, much like the Parisian Velib program, participants simply grab a car when they need one and leave it wherever they are when they don't need it - within a certain geographical area of course. Membership is free and the cost is just 19 cents per minute. (For more click here).
Smart will use micro hybrids - Smart cars with start stop technology that will enable these autos to shut the engine off when at rest to increase fuel efficiency and emissions reductions. Soon, however, Smart EVs could also be added to the program.
Now that's a very Smart idea.
Labels: car sharing, car2go, Hybrid Vehicles, micro hybrids, smart
posted by Dahcredyns at
8:51 AM
5 Comments:
seems like going EV would make this program more difficult to maintain because of the charging need and the less range that EVs would offer. of course, perhaps you could have mobile chargers to charge these vehicles, rather than having to take the vehicles to a charging station. regardless, either case would require rapid charge. perhaps turning them into full hybrids would be the better course at this point in time.
It is slightly more expensive than
http://www.zipcar.com/dc/check-rates,
(though no annual fee is required). In addition, ZIP-cars are full-size sedans, not micro-coffins.
The smart car is actually quite safe, especially in city traffic. Moreover, I think the car2go is more simplistic business model that is more consumer-friendly.
Very interesting...I've been hearing about this off and on. Besides license/credit card type stuff any idea on how they will deter theft? Probably some sort of GPS system coupled with an automatic shutoff deal?
In terms of end users its GPS enabled microchips, which I think is what Velib also now uses on their bikes if I'm not mistaken.
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