Series Title | European Voice |
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Series Details | Vol.8, No.2, 17.01.02, p13 |
Publication Date | 17/01/2002 |
Content Type | News |
Date: 17/01/02 THE European Union is funding a pilot study into an innovative car-sharing scheme aimed at freeing-up gridlocked European streets. After the success of an earlier project in Bremen, Germany, 120 local residents have registered as users of a fleet of nine Smart Cars - paying 35 cents a kilometre and €1.29 per hour for any journeys. Whenever they need a car they simply reserve one on the internet, pick it up and use a computer smart card to gain entry. Later, the user returns the vehicle with a full tank of petrol - as if it were a traditional hire car. But, unlike normal hire cars, these vehicles can be reserved for a trip lasting just a few minutes - and the price is far lower. Bologna's transport operator ATC and partners such as Polis, a group of cities promoting better transport networks, won an EU grant of €3.76 million to show how smart IT systems can be used to manage state-of-the-art car-sharing schemes. Polis director Isabelle Dussutour said each shared car could replace six to ten privately owned ones. She added that three other European cities - Barcelona, Strasbourg and Bucharest - are already examining how to implement a similar service. A pilot study into an innovative car-sharing scheme will be funded by the European Union. |
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Subject Categories | Environment, Mobility and Transport |
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