car2go arrives in Canada
Intelligent urban mobility aimed at making Vancouver a greener city
• Vancouver selected to be the first Canadian city to host the innovative carsharing service
• Breaks 225 smart fortwo car2go efficient ready to use in June 2011
• Starting today, motorists in Vancouver can pre-register and help support a local charity
car2go announced that Vancouver (BC) is the first Canadian city to have been chosen for the launch of its innovative mobility. Newly created company, car2go Canada Ltd., a subsidiary of Daimler North America Corporation, will also be implanted in Vancouver.
Nicholas Cole, president and general manager of car2go Canada Ltd., and Gregor Robertson, Mayor of Vancouver, made the official announcement to the press this morning, as well as leaders from business, politics and civic life, who also take this opportunity to test drive the vehicles smart "car2go edition" and learn about the unique approach in matters car2go carsharing.
Initially launched with great success there three years in Ulm, Germany, the car2go concept was introduced a year later in North America in Austin, Texas, where he has also been very favorably received. To date, more than 35,000 customers have registered car2go program in Ulm and Austin. There were more than 600,000 fully automated rental transactions, with an average duration of between 10 and 60 minutes. The car2go program has also recently debuted in Hamburg, Germany, and will also be operational in late 2011 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. As a city whose mission is to become the greenest city on the planet by 2020, Vancouver was a natural choice for the expansion of car2go in North America.
"We're really excited that car2go makes its Canadian debut in Vancouver," stated Gregor Robertson, Mayor of Vancouver. "Our goal is to become the greenest city in the world by 2020 and a key way to achieve this is to provide cleaner transportation alternatives. We want to ensure we offer a full range of sustainable transportation options to our citizens and model unique car2go carsharing suited to Vancouver. "
A resolutely different from car sharing service
car2go uses a car-sharing model "floating", under which cars are spread across the city and its adherents can enter there "on demand" or reserve up to 24 hours in advance. Car2go members can use car2go applications for smart phones, the car2go website or a hotline to find the nearest in the area of 47 km2 of recovery and restoration of vehicles vehicle, bounded by the axes following: in the south, 41st Avenue and north, Burrard Inlet; borders the east and west respectively Nanaimo Street and Alma Street.
The adherents can drive the car when and where they want and when they need it most, they simply leave it in any available parking space "Permit only" downtown or in residential areas forming part of the business district predefined or in parking spaces reserved for vehicles and car2go specially marked for this purpose. In short, every trip is a one-way rental to the extent that the driver does not have to return to the place where he took receipt of the car.
car2go bill customers only for the actual use of the vehicle, the term of the lease can even be calculated to the nearest minute in the case of using very short. The rental price in Vancouver is $ 0.35 CAN per minute, $ 12.99 Cdn per hour and $ 65.99 CAN per day; this price includes expenses such as fuel, parking, mileage, insurance, maintenance, cleaning, GPS navigation and support to the Customer via a telephone line operating 24 hours 24 7 days 7.
Smart vehicles "car2go edition" developed jointly by car2go and smart in Germany, are the first cars produced in series in the world specifically designed and manufactured for carsharing. Every car2go vehicle is equipped with a solar roof and innovative telematics devices, including a computer attendant very friendly Touch Screen with GPS and radio controls. Smart vehicles "car2go" intended to Vancouver are provided by Mercedes-Benz Canada and its Working detail of Vancouver.
As of June 2011, a network of 225 vehicles smart "car2go edition" energy efficient and low emission will be at the disposal of the adherents of car2go in Vancouver. From today until May 29, 2011, residents of Vancouver can pre-register at car2go program without having to pay subscription fees (a $ 35 value) has www.car2govancouver.comen entering the code promotional "NPV" or by visiting the car2go office, located at 45 Water Street in Gastown area of downtown Vancouver.
Tests car2go completes successfully
car2go conducted a trial phase of its service in Vancouver in June 2010 to March 2011 selecting users belonging to local organizations known and respected as Wavefront, the Vancouver Public Library, the School of Cinema and Vancouver Bard on the Beach. The evaluation aimed to validate and improve business processes and technical systems program before large-scale deployment of the latter. The excellent support received for the car2go model throughout the pilot project has contributed to making Vancouver the first Canadian city to host this unique service.
"Vancouver is a dynamic and modern city committed to a way of smart urban living and sustainable transport systems," stated Nicholas Cole, president and general manager of car2go Canada Ltee. "The mayor and his staff, as well as the city council and the people who participated in our test phase have played a fundamental role in our planning process. We would not be here if it was not for the comments and valuable advice that these thinkers vanguard devotees have provided to us. We are sure that everyone will find that car2go is a practical, economical and ecological way to move to Vancouver. "
Join car2go and support Canuck Place Children's Hospice
In addition to not requiring registration fees for the next 30 days, car2go will pay two dollars for each annual subscription to Canuck Place Children's Hospice over the next twelve months. Canuck Place Children's Hospice provides specialized pediatric palliative care for children with life-threatening illness and supports their families throughout British Columbia.
"Canuck Place depends on the generosity of individuals, companies and various organizations to raise approximately 80% of the funds that cover its operating costs," said Robyn Zylstra, Head of Community Partnerships Canuck Place. "Thanks to the support of car2go, Canuck Place can continue to provide pediatric palliative care first order more than 400 children and their families. "
"Canuck Place Children's Hospice is a reputed global leader in its field and a living the way in which Vancouverites work together to meet the needs of the community example. We applaud their achievements and are honored to give car2go members the opportunity to help Canuck Place Children's Hospice, "stated Cole. "We look forward to the prospect of FIG good neighbors in this community for many years to come. "
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