car2go North America LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler North America Corporation, officially launched a new way of carsharing in Miami, Florida on Saturday. A network of 240 low-emission smart fortwo vehicles are now widely available and affordable throughout the City of Miami.
If you’re in the Miami area or planning to visit, register soon with the promo code below for a free 30 minutes of driving with no registration fee.
“The success of car2go around the world to date shows that we are in a time that demands and calls for new mobility solutions in urban settings, and we are thrilled to be working with the City of Miami and the Miami Parking Authority to bring the next generation of carsharing to the people who live in, work in and visit Miami,” said Nicholas Cole, president and CEO of car2go North America.
The car2go carsharing model, when used alongside existing public transportation, serves to substantially reduce the C02 emissions and traffic congestion that are common in densely populated and vibrant cities like Miami.
“We are proud to welcome car2go to Miami,” said Art Noriega, CEO of the Miami Parking Authority. “car2go will provide our customers the flexibility to use another form of transportation on an as-needed basis, thus expanding the personal mobility options available to those who work, live, visit or patronize businesses in Miami.”
Getting Started
Those who are interested need only to register to become a car2go member. They will then receive a membership card that will allow them to drive in any of the available car2go vehicles in Miami, whenever they need it, for as long as they need it, without having to commit to a return time or location.
Registration is currently open online at Miami.car2go.com. For a limited time, all new members who use the promotion code HEAT will receive 30 free minutes of driving time, and currently the one-time $35 membership fee is being waived.
You have options
car2go provides an entirely new way of carsharing that gives members 24/7 access to a free-floating network of smart fortwo cars. It differs from traditional carsharing or car rental companies, particularly in these three areas:
BY THE MINUTE: Members pay only for the time they use the car, by the minute, with discounted rates for hourly and daily use. There is no minimum amount of time that a car can be used. Whether a member needs a car for 10 minutes or an entire day, members simply get in and drive for as long as they want, without having to commit to a specific return time or location. Parking, fuel, maintenance and insurance are included at no additional cost, and there are no annual or monthly fees.
ON DEMAND: Members can use the first available car2go they find, via a smartphone app, via the car2go vehicle finder at car2go.com, by calling the customer call center, or by simply locating an available car2go. Reservations are not required because with car2go, members have unrestricted and unlimited access to car2go vehicles 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
FREE-FLOATING: Members can pick up and drop off a car2go anywhere within the car2go Home Area. They can simply drive the car for as long as they need it, park the car in one of the designated parking areas, and end the rental by swiping the card on the windshield reader. Instantly the car becomes available for the next member to use.
car2go N.A., LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler North America Corporation, and the City of San Diego today officially launched North America’s first all-electric carsharing network, making emissions-free driving a widely available and affordable transportation option for all of San Diego.
A New Way to Get Around
The car2go smart fortwo electric drive carsharing network provides San Diego drivers with unmatched flexibility and convenience in urban mobility. Starting today, and for the first time in the history of North America, an entire city will have on-demand access to a large network of electric drive cars.
“car2go has set a new milestone in terms of flexible and tailor-made individual mobility. As the innovation leader in the automotive industry, we strive to serve our worldwide customers not only with leading-edge technology but also with groundbreaking new concepts,” said Thomas Weber, the Daimler Board of Management member responsible for research and development. “Therefore, we accelerate the rollout of this cutting-edge mobility concept. Starting Nov. 18, 2011, San Diego will be part of the innovative worldwide car2go network with a fleet of emission-free smart fortwo electric drive.”
car2go began deploying 300 smart fortwo electric drive vehicles Friday in San Diego, which are now in service and available for use.
“car2go’s investment here is another major step toward making San Diego the nation’s electric-vehicle capital,” said Mayor Jerry Sanders. “This carsharing program gives San Diegans a clean transportation option and complements walkable lifestyles in our city’s urban communities.”
Revolutionizing the Carsharing Industry
Unlike traditional carsharing programs, car2go meets the daily needs of members by providing a free-floating network of vehicles that is truly available on-demand for point-to-point trips. Members can use car2go with or without a reservation, for as long as they would like, without having to commit to a return time or location.
“We have designed car2go to be convenient and flexible, to meet the demands of everyday life, and to fit the lifestyle of our members,” said Nicholas Cole, president and CEO of car2go N.A., LLC. “It is as easy as having access to your own vehicle, and in some cases, like in densely populated downtown areas such as San Diego, it can actually be easier. car2go fills the gap between where you are and where you want to be.”
San Diegans will now have access to the car2go network of electric vehicles 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When they’re finished using the vehicle, members can park in a car2go-designated spot, at city non-restricted meters or on-street in residential neighborhoods within the car2go operating area. Parking, recharging, insurance and maintenance are included. Members pay by the minute, and only for the time they use the vehicle, with discounted rates for hourly and daily use.
“San Diego is a progressive city focused on a sustainable future. Starting today, San Diegans who have dreamed of owning an electric vehicle but could not, now can enjoy the benefits of electric vehicles and become part of an emissions-free mobility revolution,” said Cole. “car2go is revolutionizing the carsharing industry and the future of urban mobility. The launch of car2go in San Diego will serve as a model for other cities around the world that are looking for ways to reduce emissions, alleviate congestion, and create a more sustainable environment for their residents.”
San Diego will be the first North American city to have a 100-percent electric vehicle (EV) carsharing program from car2go N. A. LLC, a subsidiary of Daimler North America Corporation. 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 today at the El Cortez this morning.
“We’re proud that car2go has chosen to launch the first North American all-electric car sharing 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 today announced to bring its innovative mobility program to Amsterdam before end of 2011 and decided to run one of the world’s first large scale carsharing fleets of pure electric vehicles there with 300 smart fortwo cars.
“The future of mobility has arrived. The smart fortwo electric drive has already been delivered to our customers in 18 markets worldwide. And car2go, our innovative mobility concept, has proven to be a success in Germany and in the U.S.,” says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. “We will next set a new benchmark for sustainable individual mobility by bringing these two intelligent concepts together.”
The car2go program is already very successful in Ulm/Germany and Austin/Texas with a total of more than 35.000 members. In Hamburg, the car2go program was made available to the public with 300 vehicles last week. The electric car2go program is going to start operations in Amsterdam before end of 2011 with 300 smart fortwo electric drive vehicles. All cars will be equipped with latest telematics technology, allowing fully automated, easy and convenient rental operations. It allows customers to rent the cars spontaneously with having the burden to commit to a specific return time or location.
“We are delighted that car2go has opted for Amsterdam as one of the first cities in the world to start this electric car sharing project”, says Eric Wiebes, alderman for traffic, transportation and air quality of the city of Amsterdam. “It fits perfectly into Amsterdam’s strive for improving the air quality in the city. This project brings electric car sharing a significant step closer to a major audience. As car sharing vehicles are completing many kilometres within the city, electrification of such vehicles in particular has a positive effect.”
Amsterdam is known world-wide for its openness to new technologies and businesses. Around 300 electric charging stations are expected to be installed by end of 2011 for public use, increasing to 1000 by end of 2012.
“As from the very beginning, our smart fortwo has been invented as the ideal car for individual mobility in dense urban areas,” says Dr. Annette Winkler, Head of smart. “The smart fortwo electric drive has been tailored to shape the future of urban mobility, combining environmentally responsible driving with a lot of fun and perfect functionality. smart is much more than just a small car – it is a big idea for metropolitan areas and now for the wonderful city of Amsterdam – Proficiat!”
“car2go is designed to meet the growth and diversity of mobility needs in dense urban areas while protecting environment and quality of life,”says Robert Henrich, CEO of car2go GmbH, “Amsterdam’s strong focus on implementing and fostering green technologies such as an extensive electric infrastructure and its citizen’s open-minded lifestyle makes it the perfect place to launch an electric car2go program.”
Amsterdam has an efficient public transit network as well as various bike and car sharing schemes which are well accepted by its citizens. “car2go is aiming to complement the existing transport systems by providing a service for short and spontaneous one-way trips. We see ourselves not as a competition to other means of transport, but as another puzzle piece in the mix of Amsterdam’s different means of urban transportation,”says Henrich.
car2go is planning to establish a subsidiary in the Netherlands in order to bring the service to Amsterdam. Further details of the service such as business area, parking/charging concept and start of customer registrations will be discussed in the course of the coming months based on a memorandum of understanding with the City of Amsterdam signed today.
After a six month pilot program, car2go today announced that its successful mobility program would be made available to the Austin public beginning May 21st.
“Austin has responded to car2go with great interest and enthusiasm, reaffirming our belief that car2go really is an idea worth sharing,” said Nicholas Cole, President and CEO of car2go North America. “Our successful partnerships with the City of Austin and other pilot groups have provided car2go the opportunity to further develop our progressive transportation solution. Now the public will have the chance to take advantage of car2go to get around this great city in an environmentally friendly manner.”
The public unveiling of car2go follows a very successful pilot program with the City of Austin starting in November 2009. Since the start of the partnership, over 1,200 city employees have registered. In the first six months of the pilot program, a total of more than 3,000 pilot members joined car2go. There were more than 20,500 total rentals, with a current average of 2,000 fully automated rental transactions each week. The pilot program has also given car2go the chance to identify and resolve technical challenges to ensure that the program will run smoothly and efficiently for the Austin public.
car2go’s forward-thinking mobility program has already caught national and global attention for its commitment to reducing congestion and the associated carbon footprint in Austin by offering a green alternative to the city’s transportation challenges. Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) honored car2go with the agency’s prestigious 2010 Clean Air Excellence Award in the category of Transportation Efficiency Innovations for car2go’s innovative approach to reducing carbon emissions. Furthermore, car2go was recently honored by Fast Company Magazine, which cited car2go as one of the best ideas in building the perfect city, and named Austin one of Fast Company’s Fast Cities for 2010.
While Austin is car2go’s North American headquarters, the company plans on expanding the program to other cities in North America and Europe.
“Our public launch here in Austin will not be the end of our learning experience at car2go,” Nicholas Cole continued. “Our learning curve here in Austin provides us with the opportunity to build on the foundation that will support bringing car2go to cities across the globe. We look forward to announcing next car2go cities in the coming months.”
The public launch of car2go will be celebrated tomorrow by a free event at Republic Square Park on 4th Street and Guadalupe starting at 4:00pm and ending at 10:00pm. Attendees will have the opportunity to take a test drive in a car2go smart fortwo and register to become a member of car2go.
car2go today was honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with its prestigious 2010 EPA Clean Air Excellence Award in the category of Transportation Efficiency Innovations. EPA delegate Thomas Diggs visited car2go in its headquarters in Austin, Texas and conveyed the EPA’s congratulations. car2go will receive the environmental honor officially at the EPA’s Tenth Annual Clean Air Excellence Awards in Washington, D.C. where the EPA annually recognizes outstanding efforts in the progress of achieving cleaner air.
“Innovation and commitment are the keys to environmental progress, and our Clean Air Excellence Award winners are tremendous examples,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. “As we look to the future, these winners will help lead the way toward cleaner air and a healthier environment.”
“We at car2go are honored to be recognized by the EPA with this great award,” said Nicholas Cole, President and CEO of car2go N.A., LLC. “car2go provides a transportation solution that is not only affordable and reliable, but makes significant progress toward addressing the challenges of urban growth and mobility by providing an environmentally friendly alternative to private vehicle ownership. It complements public transportation by closing the gaps commonly associated with public transit commuting. We look forward to continuing to work toward improving the quality of life in Austin and other rapidly growing cities with our solution to urban mobility.”
The Clean Air Excellence Awards program was established in 2000 at the recommendation of the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC), a senior-level policy committee that advises the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on implementation of the Clean Air Act. The awards program recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations that have undertaken the risks of innovation, served as pioneers in their fields, and improved the environment in the process.
car2go, Austin’s new mobility program, today announced a new partnership with urbanspace, one of the city’s leading real estate firms. Under the partnership, more than 30 of urbanspace’s agents and staff will be granted access to car2go’s fleet of 200 smart fortwo vehicles at the standard per minute rate. urbanspace agents will have greater convenience to downtown properties and will also expose their clients to car2go’s innovative mobility program.
“urbanspace and car2go share a common vision of participating in Austin’s rapid growth while preserving what is so unique about the city and its residents,” said Nicholas Cole, President and CEO of car2go North America, LLC. “We are excited to partner with such a forward-looking, truly Austin company like urbanspace.”
car2go offers mobility to urbanspace clients who are moving to downtown Austin, one of the fastest growing urban areas in the country. As a complement to existing public transportation options, car2go eliminates the burdens of limited downtown parking, high gas costs and congestion. Furthermore, car2go aims to significantly reduce Austin’s carbon footprint leading to a better, healthier quality of life.
“urbanspace is committed to developing sustainable designs to accommodate Austin’s rapid urban growth,” said Roland Galang, Senior Agent of urbanspace. “car2go’s transportation solutions for downtown Austin are a perfect match for urbanspace.“
Founded in 2000, urbanspace focuses on high-end residential, commercial and mixed-use spaces. More than 30 agents provide development consulting and marketing services for numerous projects around Austin. urbanspace has professional affiliations with the Real Estate Council of Austin, the Urban Land Institute, Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors.
urbanspace is one of the first car2go partners in Austin, Texas. In November 2009, Daimler launched the car2go pilot program in cooperation with the City of Austin. In February 2010, car2go joined forces with LIVESTRONG, an Austin-based cancer support organization founded by champion cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong. At the end of March, car2go announced a partnership with the State of Texas providing State employees the opportunity to become members. And in April 2010 car2go welcomed the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Central Texas as a new partner.
Unlike traditional carsharing programs, car2go is not station-based. A fleet of 200 car2gos is located throughout the greater downtown Austin area and can be accessed “on-demand”. The members may use the vehicle for as long as they like, without committing to a specific return time. The driver can finish the rental in any available public parking space within the business area or at one of the specially marked car2go spaces. Charges are based on minutes used and include fuel, insurance, parking and maintenance.
On May 21st, car2go will launch its mobility program to the Austin public with a free event at Republic Square Park on 5th Street and Guadalupe. The event will feature live bands, great food from Austin’s most loved vendors, and fun-filled activities for kids and families. Bands to perform include the Joe Ely Band, the Gourds, Del Castillo, Black and White Years, and the Lemurs.
Daimler is to display its long-term commitment to sustainable mobility and future-orientated drive technologies through its participation at the Shanghai World Expo 2010. The automobile inventor is to take part in numerous activities at the motorshow, including offering visitors the chance to experience a smart fortwo electric drive model, which is powered by an electric motor in combination with a lithium-ion battery.
A further exhibition will focus on the car2go mobility concept, which allows customers to rent a smart fortwo vehicle from anywhere at any time.
Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the Daimler Board of Management for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, said: “Fully in line with our strategy for sustainable mobility, we will present a broad spectrum of drive technologies at the World Expo. “As well as electric cars powered by batteries or fuel cells, we will also present our innovative mobility project. The ‘flex mover’ concept also provides a visionary outlook of future possibilities for individual mobility.”
The smart fortwo electric drive was on show earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show and is able to reach a limited top speed of 62 miles per hour.
smart fortwo electric drive offers innovative driving fun
The new smart fortwo electric drive is a logical continuation of a very ambitious goal: the production of a well-engineered, attractive city car that has no local exhaust gas emissions meaning it is a zero emission vehicle. In 2007 smart kicked off zero-emission motoring in London with its tough city traffic conditions. Since then 100 smart fortwo electric drives of the first generation have been in practical customer operation there. The feedback from the UK capital has been very positive and confirms the high degree of maturity of this vehicle concept.
In 2008 smart presented the second generation smart fortwo electric drive, a more advanced electric drive with an innovative lithium-ion battery. Lithium-ion technology has decisive advantages over other types of batteries including better performance, shorter charging times, a long life and high reliability. Marc Langenbrinck says “The second generation smart fortwo electric drive is based on a successful and accepted vehicle concept with character and inherent environmentally friendly characteristics. Its innovative electric battery drive makes it the perfect car for the city: it is agile, economical and climate-friendly. Motoring with zero local emissions in an urban environment has become a reality. This equates to driving fun with no compromises.”
Daimler, the inventor of the automobile, will participate in various activities at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, which will be held from May 1 to October 31, 2010. In line with the world exposition’s motto of “better city, better life,” the focus of Daimler’s participation will be on presenting future-oriented drive technologies and mobility concepts fulfilling the specific requirements of urban mobility. Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Daimler Board of Management for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development: “Fully in line with our strategy for sustainable mobility, we will present a broad spectrum of drive technologies at the World Expo. As well as electric cars powered by batteries or fuel cells, we will also present our innovative mobility project. The ‘flex mover’ concept also provides a visionary outlook of future possibilities for individual mobility.”
“As a leader in sustainable mobility and due to our long-term commitment to China, we are delighted to have the opportunity to take an active part in the Shanghai Expo,” stated Ulrich Walker, Chairman and CEO of Daimler Northeast Asia.
There will be Daimler exhibitions on various presentation platforms at the Shanghai Expo. In the Urban Planet Pavilion for example, the company will offer visitors the possibility to experience a smart electric drive model in the context of the “Road of Solution” exhibition. The smart electric drive is powered by an electric motor in combination with a lithium-ion battery, and with this technology represents a major step towards sustainable mobility. In addition to the smart electric drive, there will also exhibitions about Mike Horn’s Pangaea Expedition and the car2go project in the Urban Planet Pavilion.
car2go is a mobility concept from Daimler that redefines individual transportation in congested areas. For the first time, customers can rent smart fortwo vehicles everywhere, anytime at attractive “by-the-minute” rates. Vehicles can be located via cell phone, smart phone or internet, and used on the spur of the moment. As an option, bookings can be made prior to the usage. Innovative telematics technology facilitates an easy, convenient rental process. The vehicles do not have to be returned to the point of rental at the end of the rental. Daimler is running this innovative concept in two cities – Ulm, Germany and Austin, Texas in the United States. In Ulm car2go runs since October 2008, in Austin since November 2009. From the beginning car2go was an overwhelming success story in Ulm. The 200 smarts of the first pilot are rented 700 to 1,000 times per day and they are used by meanwhile 18,000 customers which equals to more than 15 percent of the citizens who possess a drivers license in Ulm.
Further information on car2go will be available to visitors to the German Pavilion, where they will also be able to see the Mercedes-Benz BlueZERO concept and a video on the subject of “Vision of mobility in the city – drive train technologies and mobility concepts.” In the German-Chinese House, there will be a presentation of Daimler’s “Road to Emission-free Mobility” strategy.
Smart is partnering with Nestle at the Swiss pavilion, providing 20 smart “swiss taxis” for visitors. Visitors will be able to register for a ride online or can simply stop a “smart Taxi” for a ride in the Expo area. A smart will also be featured in the Swiss pavilion.
Daimler’s involvement also includes sponsoring the SWR 1 radio station’s concert at the Expo on May 1 and the provision of shuttle vehicles for the UN Pavilion and the Shanghai Corporate Pavilion.
car2go N.A., LLC announced today the public launch of Austin’s new mobility program. May 21, 2010 marks the date that all residents will have access to car2go for their personal mobility needs. car2go also announced that it would extend the successful pilot partnership with the City of Austin for an additional six months.
“Partnering with the City of Austin and our other beta user groups has been a tremendous success,” said Nicholas Cole, President and CEO of car2go N.A. LLC. “We have been able to use the pilot program to gather practical experience in order to ensure that car2go is a mobility solution that will exceed our customers’ expectations. We look forward to opening car2go to all Austin residents and providing everyone a progressive solution to getting around this great city.”
car2go’s public launch event will take place on May 21, 2010 in Republic Square Park at Guadalupe and 5th Street. The event will be free and feature many activities for Austin families and members of the community. Austinites will have the opportunity to register for a car2go membership at the event, but can also pre-register online beginning April 21, 2010 and pick up their membership cards onsite at the event.
The public unveiling of car2go follows a very successful pilot program with the City of Austin starting in November 2009. Under the agreement, all car2go members are allowed to use on street parking in Downtown Austin. For the provided parking, car2go is paying a usage fee to the City of Austin in the form of driving minutes for their employees’ business trips. As it has been such a success, car2go and the City of Austin will extend the partnership until November 2010.
Launched in 2009 as a pilot project, car2go has established several pilot partnerships in Austin over the past months beginning with the City of Austin. In February 2010, car2go joined forces with LIVESTRONG, an Austin-based cancer support organization founded by champion cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong. At the end of March, car2go announced a partnership with the State of Texas providing State employees the opportunity to become members. And in April 2010 car2go welcomed the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Central Texas as a new partner.
About car2go NA, LLC
car2go is an innovative mobility program with its North American headquarters located in Austin, Texas. A subsidiary of Daimler, car2go revolutionizes urban transportation by offering an extensive fleet of environment-friendly smart fortwo vehicles for rent. Unlike car-sharing programs, car2go vehicles can be accessed “on-demand,” and members may use the vehicle for as long as they like, without committing to a specific time to return the vehicle. The driver can complete the rental in any available public parking space within the greater downtown Austin area or at one of the specially marked car2go spaces.
Austin’s new mobility program announced a pilot partnership with the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Central Texas, an Austin-based foundation of entrepreneurs. Under the pilot partnership, the EF staff, its member companies and nonprofit partners will have access to car2go’s fleet of 200 smart fortwo vehicles for use at the standard per minute rate.
“The Entrepreneurs Foundation shares with car2go the values of both encouraging small businesses to prosper in Austin and engaging our community in meaningful ways,” said Nicholas Cole, President & CEO of car2go North America. “car2go is looking to make a big impact on Austin, and this partnership helps us to do just that.”
Founded in 1999, the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Central Texas has over 140 member companies and partners with more than 100 nonprofits. EF promotes philanthropy and community involvement among Austin’s entrepreneurs and their employees, including community service, leadership projects and charitable funding. They recently raised $1.2 million for Haiti earthquake relief. Austin Ventures, Silicon Labs, Inc and Trilogy are EF’s primary underwriters.
“Business and social entrepreneurs get innovation; they’re always looking for creative solutions,” said Eugene Sepulveda, CEO of the Entrepreneurs Foundation. “car2go is an exciting solution to traffic, lifestyle and environmental challenges. Our member companies, nonprofit partners and their employees are excited about joining car2go.”
car2go is an innovative mobility program with its North American headquarters in Austin, Texas. A subsidiary of Daimler, car2go aims to revolutionize urban transportation by offering an extensive fleets of environment-friendly smart fortwo vehicles for rent.Unlike other carsharing programs, car2go vehicles can be accessed “on-demand,” and members may use the vehicle for as long as they like, without committing to a specific return time. The driver can finish the rental in any available public parking space within the greater downtown Austin area or at one of the specially marked car2go spaces.
Launched in November 2009 as a pilot project, car2go has established several pilot partnerships in Austin over the past months. More than 13,000 City employees are free to register and to use the car2gos for business or private trips. In February 2010, car2go joined forces with LIVESTRONG, an Austin-based cancer support organization founded by champion cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong. On March 29th 2010, car2go announced a partnership with the State of Texas providing State employees the opportunity to become members.
car2go today announced the addition of LIVESTRONG as a new beta partner. Through the partnership, LIVESTRONG employees are able to register for and have access to car2go’s fleet of 200 smart fortwo vehicles.
“LIVESTRONG employees are excited to be part of car2go’s efforts to drastically change transportation in Austin,” said Mona Patel, LIVESTRONG Executive Vice President. “LIVESTRONG is committed to bettering our community and we hope our participation will encourage others to embrace car2go.”
Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong and based in Austin, Texas, LIVESTRONG fights for the 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. LIVESTRONG connects individuals to the support they need, leverages funding and resources to spur innovation and engages communities and leaders to drive social change. Known for the iconic yellow wristband, LIVESTRONG’s mission is to inspire and empower anyone affected by cancer.
In February 2009, LIVESTRONG moved into its first permanent home at 2201 East Sixth Street in East Austin, a diverse neighborhood undergoing a revitalization. The LIVESTRONG headquarters received a gold rating from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for its environmental sustainability, along with four stars by the Austin Energy Green Building Program. In addition to working in a green building, LIVESTRONG encourages its employees to practice green living by offering incentives to carpool, use public transit and utilize Austin Energy’s green power options to minimize environmental impact.
“LIVESTRONG’s dedication to sustainability and community improvement makes them a perfect partner for car2go,” said Nicholas Cole, President and CEO of car2go N.A., LLC. “car2go is looking forward to working with LIVESTRONG in improving the quality of life for Austin residents with our progressive solution to urban mobility.”
LIVESTRONG is car2go’s second pilot group to be included in the pilot program. Daimler launched its groundbreaking car2go pilot project in North America this past November. The City of Austin was the first North American city to partner with car2go. The partnership allows more than 13,000 city employees access to 200 car2go vehicles not only for business but also for personal use. Unlike other car sharing programs, car2go vehicles can be accessed “on-demand,” and the members may use the vehicle for as long as they like, without committing to a specific return time. The driver can finish the rental in any available public parking space within the greater downtown Austin area or at one of the specially marked car2go spaces.