Daimler car2go Smart Car Rental Fleet

Daimler has come out with a Smart idea (pun indented). In the Germany they are testing a new rental car service called car2go using a fleet of Smart FourTwo cars. The idea is that you can rent a Smart anywhere at any time inside the city limits, no rental car return.

Here’s how it works: First you have to sign-up on the website (which is unpublished at this writing) or meet with a car2go representative. An electronic tag is applied to your driver’s license. Now you’re ready to find a car2go Smart parked or reserve a vehicle online. To see if the parked Smart is unreserved, simply touch the tagged driver’s license to the sensor on the vehicle. Once inside, enter a PIN to gain access to the keys that are locked in the glove box and drive off.

This is where it gets interesting, like a mobile phone, you are charged PER-MINUTE. At about 19 cents a minute. No extra fees, it gets charged to your credit card. When you’re done, parked it and swipe your driver’s license to end the rental. If you’re wondering, yes they do have a staff that cleans and refuels the car. However, a prepaid gas card is in the glove box and you fill it up, they offer free minute credits as an incentive to return the Smart car full tank.

Currently this is only offered to Daimler employees in the city of Ulm, but has the possibility of open the service to the public around spring of 2009. Oh, don’t think about steeling the Smart FourTwo, it’s equipped with GPS navigation system and tracking.

Will this come to America? I don’t think so, but it could work in the heart of the top 10 largest cities in America.

Source: velocenews.blogspot.com

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