Hop and drive!
Rental cars in the civilized world - it is quite a usual thing, especially when it comes to traveling to another city or so. Car2Go develops a new concept, a new niche - rental car for everyday needs not only tourists but also locals.
Car2Go was started in 2008 in Ulm, Germany. Over 1,000,000 members enjoy unlimited mobility with Car2Go around every corner. It’s a unique story of movement and freedom that makes mobile life in the city more beautiful and environmentally friendly.
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The idea is as follows. By the city, at some of its territory (operating area), there is a sufficiently large number of cars to which you have unlimited access. At any convenient time for you, you can take the car and you don't need to return it to the same place. You just leave it there where you would like (within the service area). Thus, even though you rent the car, it is sort of a trip in one direction.
To gain access to rental cars, you have to get a membership in the company. To do this, you must meet quite simple conditions - to have a driver's license, you should not have serious violations (drunk driving, etc.) and you have to bind to the account your credit or debit card. And in general, that's all. Then you can use cars not only in your city but also in all other cities (within your country).
How to get a membership card? You fill out the online application, where you indicate your contact information, information about your driving license and credit card data. Then about a week later, when the company will check your data, you will receive a letter that you have become a member of the company, and after a few days you will receive a special membership card. And you can immediately use the cars.
The big advantage is that you pay a membership fee of $ 35 (in 2016) only once, and no monthly fees at all. That is, if you do not use the cars, you do not pay for anything. Plus (or perhaps minus) of the company is that all cars - are electric cars Smart. Plus - because all the cars are the same, you do not need to adapt under them and more than that, you do not need to pay for gasoline. Minus - the car is just for two people and, for example, large luggage is unlikely to fit there.
So, you've got a card, what's next? You install on your smartphone a special application. Through it you can find the nearest car, see how far up it to go, how many charge is there and some other information. You can also book a car so nobody could take it before you.
You find a nearby car on your phone (it is also possible to do it by phone or on the company website). You go to the car and can see the sensor on the windshield. You lean your membership card on the sensor, in a few seconds, when it will verify the information - the doors of the car are open.
You get in your car and enter your PIN. Then you are invited to assess the condition of the car - damages, cleanliness inside (interior) and outside (exterior). Then you take the key, which is in the special hole and can go.
If you want to finish a trip, then you park the car in the designated area, turn off the engine, you are asked the question whether you want to finish the trip (End trip) and if the car received some damages (New damage). Then you leave the key in the hole, close the windows, put the hand brake and turn off the lights, get out of the car and then lean the card to the sensor on the windshield again. You should see the inscription "Trip Completed".
With regard to payment. There are three payment options - take the car for a whole day ($84.99), you can pay per hour ($14.99) and per minute ($0.41). Option "per minute" - is the most convenient option, if you take a car, for example, to get from home to work or the store and back. In fact, your card will be charged only a few dollars for it. And usually - it's cheaper than taking a taxi.
As for the car, inside there are on-board computer, which gives access to emergency services and technical support, GPS, radio. Also, the price includes insurance (with a deductible of $ 1000) and parking on the streets within the service area. You will not need to worry about the cleanliness of the car (within reason) and for its refueling - employees do it on their own.
There are two minuses: firstly, for now the company only works in 29 European and North American cities. Secondly, find the car next to you is not always easy, even with a large number of them in the city. So to rely on Car2go, as the main way to move, is not worth.
Sources:
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/14/in-depth-car2go-goes-electric-in-san-diego/
https://stephenrees.wordpress.com/tag/car2go/
http://www.sefalsecreekliving.com/car2go-launches-this-weekend-in-vancouver/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.car2go
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/11/24/car2go-turns-your-smartphone-into-carsharing-key-mobile-access/
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