GreenBusiness
Japanese Parking Company Launches Car Sharing Service in Downtown Tokyo
GreenBusiness
Car+ Eco – the beauty and art of owning a car without owning a car
Oct 14th, 2009
Photo by careco
I know about rising gasoline prices and reducing CO2, but I still need a car…
If you find yourself stuck in this environmental dilemma, we have good news for you!
A new car sharing service has begun from January ’09 allowing ‘everyone to use a car without anyone owning it’.
‘Careco Car Sharing’ is a new service offered by Car Sharing Japan Co, and founded by Mitsui & Co Ltd. to provide an economic, environmentally sound alternative to owning your own car.
Put simply, car sharing is like a 24 hour member only rent-a-car service, where one car is shared by several members. While rent-a-cars are available to the general public, car sharing is only available to pre-registered members.
The cars are used only when needed, and gasoline, insurance, and maintenance are all covered, making this service perfect for those who only need to use a car for a few minutes each day, or who don’t have parking space.
In Europe and the US, car sharing is already an established mobility service. The idea originated in Switzerland in the ‘70s when a huge influx of vehicles into the city brought about widespread vehicle restrictions. Residents who could no longer have their own car in the city grouped together to share cars in the suburbs, giving birth to the idea of car sharing.
With new car sales dropping, and more emphasis on environmental protection, vehicle needs in Japan are also beginning to shift from ‘ownership’ to ‘use’.
This service has already begun in Ebisu, Daikanyama, and Meguro in Tokyo, and is set to expand to other areas. With electric vehicles and charging stations gaining popularity, and natural energy such as solar and wind power on the rise, car sharing services such as this are a perfect complement to this new eco lifestyle!
This article is translated from the original Japanese post
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