• Zipcar

    Car-sharing companies to merge

    The country’s two largest car-sharing companies–Flexcar and Zipcar–announced this week that they will join forces in hopes of achieving profitability, according to a piece in yesterday’s Washington Post. The companies, which were both founded in 1999, have provided an option to urban dwellers who can use public transportation most of the time, but don’t want to be completely without a car. Beyond saving customers the headaches involved with car ownership (gas, repairs, parking, and insurance are all handled by the car-sharing companies), there are salient environmental benefits, as well. Since most people who join up with car-sharing either sell their car or avoid purchasing a car, the companies estimate that 15 or more cars are taken off of the road for every shared car that is offered. Additionally, car-sharing makes public transportation a more viable option for individuals, thus limiting greenhouse gas emissions associated with individual transportation. After the deal is completed, the new Zipcar will have vehicles in about 50 cities, with a membership of 180,000.

    Carleton continues to look into car-sharing options and is currently participating in discussions with HourCar, a Twin Cities-based car-sharing group.