Paris is to start introducing 3,000 electric hire cars to the French capital from next year, as it looks to capitalise on a similar project with two wheels.
The city’s hugely successful ‘Velib’ bicycle project is the basis for the powered ‘Autolib’ scheme, which will see a Pininfarina-designed Bluecar introduced through the Groupe Bollore.
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The Paris Mayor’s office said at least 1,000 charging stations would be available to service the 3,000 cars, which can be picked up and dropped off in the same way as the capital’s bike scheme.
Reservations can be made by mobile phone, internet or directly at the station, although a minimum hire period of 20min is required.
The cheapest price for hire will be EUR10 (US$13.20) daily charge, with EUR7 for the first half hour, EUR6 for the second and EUR8 for the third and subsequent half hour periods. Families will benefit from a 10% discount.
Groupe Bollore said initial construction work would start by the end of this month, once a formal signature had been inked, while a non-commercial test phase will be undertaken during the whole of next summer, with 60 cars and 33 stations.
The Mayor’s office said the Bluecars would have a 250km range for in-town driving and 150km outside, while recharging would take around four hours.
Autolib will be run by deputy Paris Mayor Annick Lepetit in charge of transport. Some 40 districts in the city will participate.
The complete network of stations will be completed by 31 March, 2012.
