Carsharing catelog: Who & Where
Carsharing membership has grown tremendously over the past 15 years – from its grassroots launch in North America in Quebec City in 1994 – and the industry has recently attracted significant commercial attention. It can best be organized along the following lines:
CarSharing Association members:
- transit-oriented carsharing organizations balancing service with social, environmental and economic benefits in the communities in which they operate. CarSharing.org
- CityCarShare (San Francisco), The Car Coop (Vancouver), I-Go Carsharing (Chicago), AutoShare (Toronto), Communauto (Montreal, Quebec), Phillycarshare, and more
Large rental companies in multiple cities & universities
Auto Manufacturers (still somewhat experimental)
- Car2Go (Daimler) (Austin), Mu by Peugot (Europe)
Other small, independent carsharing companies
- Mint (NYC), iCar (Boston), LAXcarshare (Los Angeles), Timecar (Oklahoma City)
European, Asian, Australian carshares
- A list available here
P2P / neighbour-to-neighbour / social carsharing
- Getaround, RelayRides, Spride
- WhipCar (UK), CityZenCar (France), Tamyca (Deutschland)
- Drive My Car (Australia)
CarSharing Association launched – sets standards for industry
Eighteen carsharing organizations from around the world have announced formation of an association that sets the ethical, social and environmental bar for the carsharing industry. The driving principles of the new CarSharing Association (CSA) focus on environmental and social impact and responsibility, education, research and ethical practices (carsharing.org).
The goals of carsharing organizations in CSA include reducing the number of cars on the road, relieving congestion and increasing transportation options. Unlike “cars on demand” services, member carsharing organizations are “transit-oriented” services, encouraging carsharing as part of a sustainable transportation network of choices that includes walking, cycling, and transit.
Top 10 Shared Mobility Stories for 2010
Top 10 Shared Mobility Stories for 2010
Here are the biggest and/or most important developments for carsharing and urban mobility in 2010, and certainly a guide to what to look for in 2011.
10 – Toyota gas pedal & brake-related recall (near miss for industry)
How Avis, Budget & Zipcar are dealing with the Toyota recalls
Economist, February 15, 2010
9 – OEM’s announce Electric Cars deliveries, partnerships
Greenwheels signs electric car agreement with Peugeot
Green Car Website, January 15, 2010Quebec car share rakes up the Leaf
Globe and Mail, June 11, 2010
Hertz Puts Electric Cars on the Fast Track, Starting in New York
NY Times Blog, December 7, 20108 – Hertz buys Australia’s Flexicar (strong commitment to global growth)
Hertz Acquies Australia’s Flexicar
MarketWatch, October 27, 20107 – Car2go + EuropCar partner in Hamburg, Vancouver may be next
Daimler & Europcar bring Car2go car sharing to Hamburg
AutoBlog green, October 17, 2010
6 – Social Media tsunami hits #CarSharing
… even Zipcar starts tweeting
5 – Paris picks Groupe Bollore to run Autolib’
Paris chooses Bollore to run Autolib’ – €100M investment to be made
Reuters, Dec 17, 20104 – Zipcar buys Streetcar (has to deal with UK Competition Commission)
Streetcar founders net £11 in sale to Zipcar
Daily Telepgraph, April 23, 2010Zipcar snaps up UK’s biggest car club, Streetcar; pays 2 x sales
Independent, April 21, 2010Competition Commission Clears Zipcar’s purchase of UK Streetcar
Press Release, December 22, 2010
3 – Zipcar announces IPO, struggles with profitability, debt, cashflow
Is Zipcar IPO on the Rocks?
Fortune, December 16, 2010Gigaom, December 15, 2010
2 – Google reveals they’ve been real-world testing self-driving cars
What we’re driving at
Google’s offical Blog, October 9, 20101 – P2P Car Sharing explodes
Access trumps ownership in 2011
Reuters, December 22, 2010Google Ventures invests in RelayRides P2P Car Sharing
FT, December 14, 2010
CityCarShare teams up with Spride to launch Personal Car Sharing
Press Release, September 29, 2010Communauto launches Canada’s first P2P Car Sharing
Montreal Gazette, August 29, 2010See similar stories:
