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Paris, Australia Plan Velib-syle Public Electric Car Networks

Electric cars seem like a great idea, but its hard to believe they'll ever really catch on with the driving public without some serious incentives. Officials in France and Australia, however, think they have it figured out: they plan to launch low-priced electric car sharing networks modeled after the wildly successful bike-sharing program Velib. Autolib will station 4,000 battery-powered electric cars in and around Paris, with users paying a monthly membership fee of between 20 and 30 euros and rental fees of between four to five euros per hour for the cars. To go along with the rollout, the city plans to install 1,400 electric charging stations, so you'll never be far from the juice you need to keep going. (After all, electric cars can only operate for an hour or two before they bonk.) A similar effort is going on in Australia, where an outfit called Better Place is working with a Renault-Nissan alliance to introduce electric cars, charging spots, battery exchanges, and renewable energy technology to the good people Down Under. When will all of this be completed? It depends on who you ask. French officials claim their system will be up by 2010 and the Aussies are predicting a 2012 launch, but it's doubtful that automakers will have fleets of acceptable vehicles ready in that time frame. But in any case, it's nice to see zero-emission vehicles get a little encouragement, and we look forward to zipping around Paris or Perth in a snazzy electric car.

[Photo: EV World]

Related Stories:
· Autolib, Paris's Public Electric Car Service [concierge.com]
· Electric Car Network Down Under [psfk.com]
· Better Place [Official Site]
· Electric Car Tours [Jaunted]

Green Travel / San Francisco Tours / Electric Car Tours / GPS Travel / → All Tags

San Francisco GPS Car Tours: They Know Where OJ Went To School

Last summer we told you about a San Francisco tourist transportation that was sure to get the greenies over-excited.

Now, we bring you GoCar Rentals in SF.

GoCar rentals is similar to Electric Time Cars in that, they offer electric carts that go up to 35 mph and an on board GPS computer so you don't get lost. So what is the difference? Well according to GoCar they provide the “first ever storytelling car.” Apparently they never watched Knight Rider.

What kind of stories does GoCar tell?

It tells you about historical facts of certain locations and business. Who would have known that O.J Simpson attended to Galileo High School! I didn't know until the GPS lady told me so!

A GoCar rents for $44 for the first hour, $34 for hour two, and $24 for each additional hour, after five hours of rental, you won't be charged for any additional hours. GoCar drivers must be 21 or older with a valid driver’s license.

Oh, and get this, you can become a GoCar Rental franchisee. You can license a GoCar Rentals franchise for somewhere between 50 and 100k; the company’s first franchise has already opened in San Diego. A second franchise is scheduled to open in Miami in April. GoCars also sells new and used GoCars—buy one and launch your own brand of GPS tours. New vehicles run $6,000.

Maybe we should start Jaunted GoCars New York. Could we still get Dick Clark to do the audio portion--"Remember, to wear a helmet!" Is this gonna be bigger than Subway? Time will tell.

[Photo: rhosoi]

Related Stories:
· Toursit Transportation is Electric [Jaunted]
· GoCar Rentals [Yelp]