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| From ownership to usership. |
Mayor Bertrand Delanoe is one step ahead of you and showing great leadership by announcing that in 2012 Paris will launch a fleet of 3,000 electric cars available for hire from 1,0000 docking stations. He should know what he is doing, he was the pioneer of the bike hire scheme in Paris in 2007, now copied by other cities such as London.
Delanoe awarded the contract to the French conglomerate Bollore, a newcomer to automotive, who will be introducing their four seat Bluecar with a range of 250 km / 155 miles and a four hour charge time.
The annual subscription will cost just 12 euro per month and 5 euros for the first 30 minutes use.
A study by Paris consultancy APUR showed that a car spends 95% of its time parked. Other studies have shown that one hire car takes approximately 6 owned cars off the road. The future is clear to see, we just need to find a way and will to get there. Here is a short film from BMW as they position themselves as a visionary company in this area.
I cannot think of a more appropriate use for electric vehicles: short, frequent, urban trips. I cannot think of a more high profile way to trial electric cars: in capital cities. I cannot think of a better way to show support to your country's electric car manufacturers: facilitate the first few thousand cars on the road.
