Car Sharing
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Oh, those wacky Germans and their car-sharing schemes. BMW said yesterday that it would launch a pilot car-sharing program, first in Munich and then in Berlin, starting next month. The cooperative venture with Sixt AG will be called DriveNow. BMW says DriveNow will be the "first-ever car-sharing scheme offering premium models," in this case its BMW 1-Series and Mini Cooper vehicles. The company also expects to introduce plug-in and battery electric vehicles, presumbly its i3 minicar, later on. All cars will have four or more seats, and luxury features like heated seats and automated parking...
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Pininfarina Signs Deal For Production Of Bluecar Electric VehicleThe last we heard of Pininfarina and its Bluecar electric vehicle was that the company was looking to start production but a lack of financial support meant the project was never able to pass the concept stage. That was almost two years ago, however. Fast forward to today and we have news that...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2011 EDAG Light Car Sharing Concept Revealed Ahead Of Geneva Debut
When it comes to solutions for sustainable mobility of the future, drivetrain technology is only one area being investigated in the effort to make cars more environmentally friendly. Other areas include reducing vehicle weight, developing navigation software to predict fuel efficient routes and...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Testing A Plug-In Prius Or Volt Gets Easier For Civilians
With cars like the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf already on sale, plus a handful of startups either selling or building battery-powered cars on U.S. soil, it’s safe to say that the electric car revolution is truly upon us. Sadly, the cost of entry to be a part of this revolution is still...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Rent A Tesla For $25/Hour, Just Plan Your Charging Carefully
The all-electric Tesla Roadster is probably the world's best advertisement for electric cars. While crude, cramped, and expensive, its 0-to-60-mph time of 3.9 seconds will make a convert out of any electric skeptic. But thus far, Tesla Motors has built only 1,500 Roadsters, and the car was always...
John Voelcker -
Green stocks sputtering out on public markets as Zipcar nears IPO
Last week, electric car maker Tesla Motors made history as the first automotive company to go public since Ford in the 1950s, but its share price continues to drop, down another 9.24 percent so far today. Despite its buzz and sex appeal, it looks like the company won’t be able to escape the fate...
John Voelcker -
Ever loan your car to a friend for a day in exchange for a few bucks? Soon, that may not void your insurance and make you a criminal. At least in California. State Assemblymember Dave Jones (D-Sacramento) has introduced a bill (AB 1871) that would amend the state's insurance laws by allowing vehicle owners to participate in car-sharing programs. Right now, policyholders are banned from renting out personal vehicles. In its simplest form, car-sharing gives multiple drivers access to a pool of vehicles. It's generally first-come, first-served. The core of the business lies in data to answer a...
