HOURCAR announces partnership with Xcel
HOURCAR parters with Xcel Energy to plan for 100% electric fleet
Through a partnership with Xcel Energy, HOURCAR will begin planning to convert their entire fleet from fuel-based vehicles to a 100% electric fleet and a one-way trip model by 2020.
SAINT PAUL, MN, October 24, 2017 – Today, HOURCAR announced that it would partner with Xcel Energy on an ambitious planning process to launch a new carsharing service line in the Twin Cities. This new service is envisioned as all-electric, hub-based, and one-way. When this new service is in place, drivers will be able to end their reservation at any available hub instead of returning to the hub where the reservation originated. HOURCAR’s current goal is to introduce this new service line by mid-2020.
As part of this plan, HOURCAR has set a goal to convert its entire fleet to zero-emission electric vehicles (ZEVs) by the end of 2020. “This transition aligns with our commitment to deliver affordable, accessible, and sustainable shared mobility choices.” said HOURCAR CEO Paul Schroeder. “The Twin Cities is our home, and we want to help keep it clean and livable by doing our part to reduce emissions and congestion.” HOURCAR hopes to be able to begin introducing some ZEVs into their fleet as early as next year.
“Xcel Energy is excited to partner with HOURCAR as we have a long term clean energy plan that includes electrifying the transportation industry,” said Chris Clark, president, Xcel Energy-Minnesota. “We are embracing a future that includes more electric vehicles on the road and partnering with HOURCAR helps ensure that this future benefits all customers, the environment, and the electric grid we all rely upon.”
In announcing the plan, Schroeder also pointed to disparities in transportation infrastructure. “We are especially interested in maximizing the impact of these changes in low-income communities, which are disproportionately affected by NOx emissions and airborne particulates. Children who grow up in these neighborhoods have higher rates of asthma and other breathing disorders,” Schroeder said. “We aim to create access to electric vehicle carsharing in these areas, lowering emissions while also increasing access to flexible and affordable transportation choices, a double win for these communities.”
HOURCAR has been part of a cutting-edge movement in shared mobility since the organization’s founding in 2005. As the original car sharing organization in the Twin Cities, HOURCAR is well-suited to help launch Twin Cities car sharing into the future. The organization continues to strive toward a new era of multi-modal transportation that is smart, earth-friendly, and socially responsible, and seeks partners, sponsors and other stakeholders to join in this effort.