SAN FRANCISCO--November 28, 2012: --City CarShare, the largest nonprofit carsharing organization in North America, is driving the San Francisco Bay Area's access to electric-based vehicles by providing 18 plug-in vehicles and 160 hybrids available for shared use. With the addition of two new Ford Focus all-electric vehicles, City CarShare's fleet now includes 13 plug-in electric hybrids (PHEVs) and five all-electric vehicles (EVs). Forty-four percent of City CarShare's fleet is now made up of electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
“Providing additional options allows our residents and visitors to live a green way of life.”
"We are very close to meeting one of our mission goals of converting half of our fleet to electric or hybrid by 2015," says Rick Hutchinson, City CarShare CEO. "By offering innovative and greener mobility options to individuals and businesses, we are significantly reducing gas consumption and CO2 emissions, making the Bay Area a more livable place."
City CarShare's fleet prevents 80 million pounds of co2 from entering the atmosphere each year. All of City CarShare's vehicles are at or near the top of their class in fuel and emission efficiency.
"City CarShare's expansive electric and hybrid fleet is the largest in the Bay Area and provides San Francisco residents and businesses with an environmentally-friendly choice that helps ease congestion on our City's streets and leads the way in environmental stewardship in this collaborative consumption economy," said Edwin M. Lee, Mayor of San Francisco.
A recent survey of City CarShare members indicated that they were interested in electric and hybrid vehicles as a transportation option -- members identified battery (all-electric) and plugin hybrids as an excellent option (45% and 39%) or good option (38% and 40%).
When asked why they are interested in using plug-in vehicles from City CarShare, members indicated: 1) curious about the technology, 2) environmental reasons, 3) to reduce petroleum or fossil fuels, 4) the potential for cost savings or fuel efficiency, or 5) an affinity for new technology.
City CarShare provides easy access and convenience to its shared vehicles with more than 200 locations in San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, Alameda, Daly City, El Cerrito and Fremont. The eight battery-based electric vehicle models available include the all-electric Ford Focus, Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi iMiEV; the Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Prius plug-in hybrids; and the Honda Civic, Toyota Camry and Toyota Prius hybrids.
"As a long-time partner, we are pleased City CarShare has added an all-electric vehicle to the fleet in Berkeley," says Tom Bates, mayor of Berkeley. "Providing additional options allows our residents and visitors to live a green way of life."
For more information visit City Car Share. Follow City CarShare on Facebook and Twitter.
