Avis epitomizes corporate America in many ways. ZipCar was a counter-corporate organization in many ways. Although ZipCar was a publicly traded company, it did not operate in the same way as Avis. Instead, it worked off a highly decentralized approach. Instead of a large outlet, like those found at the airport, with hundreds of cars, ZipCar was scattered throughout neighborhoods that were densely populated and may have contained numerous people in need of a car on occasion, as opposed to on vacation.
With Avis acquiring ZipCar recently, will anything take its place? There are a number of local options for car sharing. In addition, Justin recently wrote about a Japanese version of the car sharing service.
Perhaps nonprofits will fill niche. One has taken root in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) and another in Boulder, Colorado. Hour Car in the Twin Cities operates a total of 39 cars currently. In the parking garage attached the building where I work there are roughly three cars owned and maintained by Hour Car, including a Chevy Volt and a Prius Plug-In, both of which are parked at spots with charging capabilities.
In Denver and Boulder, eGo CarShare has more than 35 locations serving the two cities. Originally serving Boulder only, the service expanded to Denver four years ago. With a mission “to provide and promote alternatives to individual car ownership, thereby reducing the environmental and social impacts associated with motor vehicle use” eGo CarShare is also a founding member of CSA, the CarSharing Association.
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