BMW Considering i3 for Electric Car Sharing Program

BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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is considering following Daimler's lead by expanding its own electric car sharing service using the i3BMW i3Germany, 2011 > present12 versions
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. The plan is to test a few i3s in San Francisco to make sure that it would work and then launch the program in Germany. BMW calls its service Drive Now. 

"We are testing potential locations. In a comparatively short time many drivers could have an i3 available to them," said Antony Douglas, BMW's mobility services head. 

BMW already has an experimental car sharing service in San Francisco that runs 70 1 Series Active EsBMW ActiveEGermany, 2011 > 201126 photos
. It has 500 registered users who pay $12 for a 30-minute drive and $0.32 for each additional minute. The cars can only be picked up and returned to specific locations, but BMW is already looking for parking lots as partners to install charging systems.

BMW plans to launch Drive Now in Berlin and Munich in 2013.

In comparison, Daimler's Car2Go service charges a flat fee of €0.29 ($0.38) per minute or  €0.09 ($0.12) a minute when parked. Drivers can rent the car for €12.90 ($16.84) per hour or a day for €39 ($50.92). Prior registration at Car2Go or a Europcar rental agency is necessary before renting a car. Car2Go only offers electric Smart Fortwossmart Fortwo Electric DriveGermany, 2012 > present10 photos
.

Source: Autobild