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When in Paris, you may want to try the Autolib' - an eco-friendly and cheap way of getting around the capital city.
Autolib', which translates into "self service car", is a "green" public car rental system that uses only electric cars. The scheme, which was hatched by Paris Mayor Betrand Delanoe, aims to reduce the population of private cars, reduce traffic congestion and give both residents and visitors an opportunity to try electric cars. If successful, this will not only cut air pollution but noise pollution as well as electric cars are fairly silent.
This 235 billion euro (S$387.5 billion) project follows on the success of Velib', the bicycle-sharing scheme launched in 2007, and which has since been duplicated in other French cities and which is also found in other countries such as Norway.
The Bluecar used in Autolib' certainly is eye-catching. Not surprising - as this bubble-shaped four-seater is designed and manufactured exclusively by Italian designer Pininfarina, renowned for designing Ferraris and Maseratis.
The short-term rental, available also for tourists, has been so packaged as to make it convenient, easy and attractive for drivers. Just go to Autolib's main office in central Paris or at the stations where the cars are parked and have ready an international driving licence, passport or Identity Card and a credit card. You will also need to place deposit which will not be cashed unless the car is not returned.
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Autolib' parking station
Then just pick up the car from where it is parked in the station, and unlock it using an electronic card. The car can be returned at any of the 1000 stations that will be found all over Paris and the neighbouring towns. Officially launched in Dec 2011, the Autolib' scheme started off with a fleet of 250 Bluecars but this will expand to 3000 by the end of 2012.
Rental rates are geared towards those who wish to use the car for a few hours or make short trips to purchase things which are bulky. There are two tiers to the rental fee: a membership subscription, which can either be for a year, at 144 euros (S$238), a week at 14 euros (S$25) or a day at 10 euros (S$16.50); and the vehicle rental charge, which ranges between 4 to 8 euros (S$6.60 to S$13.20) for a 30 minute block.
Drivers not used to electric cars will get assistance from the 24-hour Autolib' operational centre that tracks all the cars on the road. They will be assisted by the staff via video calls, so drivers new to such cars need not worry about operational unfamiliarity.
The Bluecars used in Autolib' are manufactured by billionaire entrepreneur Vincent Bollore's French conglomerate Groupe Bolloré. The car is powered by a lithium-metal-polymer battery, unlike lithium-ion batteries which other car makers are using for electric cars.
They claim that the lithium-metal-polymer battery will hold up their charges five times longer than other fuel cells, and will allow the cars to be driven for 250 kilometres before they run out of power. The Groupe Bolloré also sells buses powered by the same battery.
Then just pick up the car from where it is parked in the station, and unlock it using an electronic card. The car can be returned at any of the 1000 stations that will be found all over Paris and the neighbouring towns. Officially launched in Dec 2011, the Autolib' scheme started off with a fleet of 250 Bluecars but this will expand to 3000 by the end of 2012.
Rental rates are geared towards those who wish to use the car for a few hours or make short trips to purchase things which are bulky. There are two tiers to the rental fee: a membership subscription, which can either be for a year, at 144 euros (S$238), a week at 14 euros (S$25) or a day at 10 euros (S$16.50); and the vehicle rental charge, which ranges between 4 to 8 euros (S$6.60 to S$13.20) for a 30 minute block.
Drivers not used to electric cars will get assistance from the 24-hour Autolib' operational centre that tracks all the cars on the road. They will be assisted by the staff via video calls, so drivers new to such cars need not worry about operational unfamiliarity.
The Bluecars used in Autolib' are manufactured by billionaire entrepreneur Vincent Bollore's French conglomerate Groupe Bolloré. The car is powered by a lithium-metal-polymer battery, unlike lithium-ion batteries which other car makers are using for electric cars.
They claim that the lithium-metal-polymer battery will hold up their charges five times longer than other fuel cells, and will allow the cars to be driven for 250 kilometres before they run out of power. The Groupe Bolloré also sells buses powered by the same battery.