Official AutoShare News / Blog

We are launching our Plug-in Electric Vehicle program, introducing half a dozen full electric, extended range and plug-in hybrids to its fleet in 2011. As a company committed to innovation and sustainable transportation, AutoShare is the first car sharing company in Canada to add 100% electric vehicles to its fleet. The company has been working with a number of companies to install a network of charging stations for this project in Toronto, including Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), Toronto Hydro, Brookfield Place, King and John Festival Corporation, and Toronto Atmospheric Fund’s FleetWise EV300 initiative.

The first shared charging station is located downtown at MEC’s King and Spadina location, which launches today with the Mitsubishi iMiev. “We couldn’t be more excited than to officially launch Canada’s first shared electric car plug-in right at Toronto’s flagship MEC store,” says Sean McSweeney, Toronto Store Manager, MEC. “AutoShare and MEC have always held similar community and sustainability values and share the same approach to environmental stewardship. We look forward to continuing our work with AutoShare on this and other initiatives.”

The rest of the shared plug-ins stations and vehicles will take their places on the grid throughout 2011 at locations including Bell Lightbox, Brookfield Place, Evergreen Brick Works and other locations to be announced. “This is the first step in letting Torontonians experience the future of the personal mobility” said Kevin McLaughlin, President of AutoShare. “These partnerships will provide the infrastructure to support the next generation of car sharing, using electric vehicles and green energy to further reduce carbon emissions”.

“While our biggest environmental impact comes from getting people to stop owning a car – not by improving the efficiency of our shared fleet – we are proud to be pioneering plug-in electric vehicles for our city, and industry. These partnerships, and these types of initiatives, lay the groundwork for the next generation of car sharing, using electric vehicles and green energy to further reduce carbon emissions.” adds McLaughlin. All AutoShare Electric Vehicles will be Bullfrog powered, using only green electricity from regionally sourced wind and hydro projects.

“AutoShare continues to be a local leader in reducing fleet-based emissions,” said Ben Marans, Manager of Social Innovation & Transportation for the Toronto Atmospheric Fund. “They were part of our first plug-in hybrid pilot four years ago and they are still educating their clients and the community-at-large on the environmental and economic benefits of low-emission electric vehicles.”

Press Release pdf

Spring is now at full speed, and summer is just around the corner. We have now gone Paperless (with just a few lock box keys around until the end of June), and have been growing our fleet quickly: new locations, more cars, and 7 new models this spring! (Honda Civic, Mazda 3 hatchback, Fiat 500, Toyota Tacoma pickup, Hyundai Elantra, Scion Xb and Mitsubishi I-MIEV electric). We have some great contests underway too, including a chance to win a trip to Montreal on VIARail. For all the latest news & contests, check out our June newsletter.

Another first for AutoShare! We have been a pioneer of alternative fueled vehicles in our fleet for over a decade, including the first “plugin hybrid” for rent in a Canada (2006). Now, we’re really excited to have one of the first EV’s in Toronto, a Mitsubishi I-MIEV.

It may be a month or two before we’re ready to release EV’s into our fleet, as we’re busy lining up infrastrucutre partners (parking, charging) and fine-tuning our service delivery for this unique fleet. A big thanks to the Toronto Atmospheric Fund’s Fleetwise EV300 program.

You can take your first spin in this car at the Green Living Show at their Ride & Drive area, April 15 – 17th. Follow the rollout of our electric vehicles at AutoShare.com/electric and/or stay connected to all of our news via our Facebook Page & Twitter, including the launch of our EV fleet.

AutoShare staff did our annual trip to the Toronto Auto Show recently, and we saw a lot of interesting cars. We tend to spend more time in the back seat, or looking for easy-to-clean fabric than looking for sporty new designs. But this year, there are LOTS of fun, economical and reliable vehicles to choose from (and a few cars that will arrive in the very-near-future). Please take a look at these photos on our facebook page, and let us know what you think: AutoShare’s trip to the 2001 auto show.

The Government of Canada’s Retire Your Ride program has helped get more than 120,000 older vehicles off the road since 2009. The program offers people a wide range of incentives to ‘retire’ your older vehicles, which can be MUCH MORE polluting that a new car (let alone other alternatives, like walking, biking, transit and/or AutoShare). You can read the Moneyville.ca story or go straight to the Retire Your Ride website, retireyourride.ca.

Specifically, AutoShare’s incentive through the program is free Application ($29), free membership ($100) and a driving credit ($225).

Eighteen carsharing organizations from around the world have announced formation of an association that sets the ethical, social and environmental bar for the carsharing industry. The 5 founding members from Canada – AutoShare, The Carcoop, CarShareHFX, CommunAuto and Vrtcucar – represent about 80% of the Canadian Industry (with over 1,600 vehicles shared by more than 45,000 people, businesses and government departments). The driving principles of the new CarSharing Association (CSA) focus on environmental and social impact and responsibility, education, research and ethical practices (www.carsharing.org). The goals of carsharing organizations in CSA include reducing the number of cars on the road, relieving congestion and increasing transportation options.

January 24, 2011 Press Release | CarSharing.org

AutoShare members can now save 10% on all VIA rail travel. A great deal on ‘a more human way to travel’ long distance! Check the ‘Memebrs Info Area’ of the reservation site for our discount code, which you can use online, over the phone or in person.

AutoShare is very happy to announce that we have added a new, simple monthly plan – the “Metro Plan”. Designed to be easy to understand and great for quick trip-estimates, it also is a money-saver for those folks who take more frequent trips (eg 3 or more a month). Starting at just $8.75 an hour for over 90% of our fleet…Learn more about the Metro Plan and our other rates.

Now in its third year, we are proud to be the first (and only!?) car sharing or rental operator in the GTA to offer winter tires on a portion of our fleet. Effective December 1st, all of our Toyota Matrix hatchback/wagons have been outfitted with winter tires (until March 31st, 2011). There will be a small premium charge of 50¢ per hour or $5.00 per day on these vehicles. Have a great holiday season, drive safely – and go have fun!

Last night, AutoShare purchased 100 Bixi Toronto memberships to push Bixi past their 1,000 goal, and another step towards a May 2011 launch.

Some people are wondering why a ‘car company’ wants people to share bikes, too? Because AutoShare is committed to building a more efficient and innovative transportation system in Toronto. So our support for Bixi is a natural fit. Montreal, London, even Paris have been transformed by the arrival of a bike program. Bixi puts thousands more bikes and riders into the street – there were a million Bixi trips in just 5 months in Montreal – making riding safer and more accessible for everyone. And we think that’s a good thing for our city.