Many of you have probably seen the familiar blue and white smart car promenading around campus or the array of sleek silver charging stations by the bus loop, Totem Residence or SaveOn Foods. The car2go has become ever more popular ever since its introduction in 2008. Among students, families, and businesses, car2go clientele are still growing and will continue to attract others due to its innovative business model. Whether the consumer is aiming to be sustainable or even just practical and cost-saving, the idea is no-doubt appealing to those on either spectrum. The company touts of simplicity, budget friendliness, and environmental goodwill by using a powerful ‘Diverse Impact Model’, a model described by SustainAbility, a think tank and strategic advisory firm.

Emerging in a time when Gen Y is just starting to grow into their own bank accounts and make their own decisions, car2go has tapped into a widespread transportation need. Part of creating a diverse impact and targeting several consumer segments is the successful ability of car2go in establishing an alternative marketplace, behavioural changes, a product as a service, and shared resources. With its one-way model and ease of using the car, car2go outdoes Zipcar and other similar companies in this section. This model also stimulates reduced consumption and environmental feel-good incentives for those previously solely looking for the economical convenience of using but not owning a car.

www.car2go.com

Personally, I have not driven in one but I have several friends who have shared in the experience. Mostly positive, there are some mixed feelings as well. Primarily, we see car2go, alternative transportation, and people concentrated in the downtown core and other heavily populated areas such as university campuses and metropolitan hubs. The decreased availability in parking spaces and the increased clogging of roads are perhaps some of the few but concerning outcomes we see from car2go and other mobility-related sharing businesses. We have to question whether or not programs like this are simply adding to the problem of more congestion and higher manufacturing by-products. Are we driving our way out of the problem or driving to consume more?

References from:

http://planning.ubc.ca/vancouver/transportation-planning/transportation-options/automobiles/car-sharing

https://www.car2go.com/en/vancouver/

http://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-profiles/publicola/articles/report-car2go-a-slightly-qualified-success-april-2014