Zipcar aims to sign up local governments, too
WASHINGTON - After nearly a decade of convincing city dwellers to ditch their vehicles and sign up for its by-the-hour or by-the-day car-rental service, Zipcar Inc. is hoping to broaden its customer base by offering its fleet-management technology to the public sector.
The Cambridge company plans to unveil a new venture today that will allow municipalities to equip their vehicles with Zipcar's reservation and management systems. Having city employees share vehicles will allow governments to streamline their fleets, Zipcar said, saving money and helping the environment.
The program comes as cash-strapped municipal governments look for ways to trim costs amid a slumping national economy.
A pilot program that's been underway for six months in Washington, D.C., has allowed the city to reduce the number of passenger cars in its fleet by 360, or 17 percent. District of Columbia officials are projecting net savings of more than $1 million after the first year, and $6.6 million after five years.
"You promote more sustainable transportation behavior and also save money - it's a huge win-win," said Zipcar's chief executive, Scott Griffith.
The FastFleet program works much like Zipcar's service, which it calls car-sharing. Participants reserve a vehicle online or by phone, and then enter it by swiping an access card. Keys are stored inside the car. When a driver is done, he or she returns the vehicle to the pickup site.
But with FastFleet there's a key difference: Zipcar does not provide the vehicles. They are supplied by the city or business using the technology. The monthly cost for the equipment ranges from $65 to $90 per vehicle. Dan Tangherlini, Washington's city administrator, said the District began working with Zipcar several years ago, when the company asked to use to public parking spaces for its cars. 