Carshare Launches in Summit County & Breckenridge!
Colorado CarShare Electric Vehicle (EV) in Breckenridge…with Ski & Bike Racks!
Colorado CarShare is excited to announce the launch of its electric vehicle (EV) carshare program in Summit County with Xcel Energy and the Town of Breckenridge. Intended for locals and visitors alike, now you can carpool or take the bus up into the mountains and still have an awesome AWD with ski and bike racks while there! The launch on Bike to Work Day was AWESOME, and (check out the Vid)…Denver 9news caught it all!
—– Read more from the Press Release Below —–
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 26, 2023
CONTACT:
Brooke Attebery, Communications & Marketing, [email protected]
The Town of Breckenridge to launch new EV carshare program through an innovative partnership
Breckenridge, Colorado – As part of its commitment to promoting sustainable transportation, the Town of Breckenridge has partnered with Xcel Energy and Colorado CarShare to provide two shared electric vehicles (EVs) located in the South Gondola Parking Garage. The program aligns with the Town’s goals to lower emissions, and offers equitable access to a new mobility option in the community.
“The carshare program is especially exciting for Town of Breckenridge because it enables households of residents and visitors alike to forgo car ownership, reduce the number of cars in the household, or leave cars at home when visiting Breckenridge.” said Mayor Pro Tem Kelly Owens. “It also advances social equity for those who can’t afford the many expenses associated with car ownership.”
Xcel Energy provided rebates to Colorado CarShare to procure the electric vehicles for use in their car sharing service operations and provided funding to the Town to procure and install the new chargers that support these electric vehicles. “This pilot program helps deliver the benefits of electric vehicles to all customers in the communities we serve, including those that don’t drive, or drive electric. We know EVs can help customers save money on their transportation costs and they deliver cleaner air for everyone because they are powered with increasingly clean electricity,” said Nadia El Mallakh, Vice President Clean Transportation, Xcel Energy.
The not-for-profit organization Colorado CarShare, which currently operates over 60-shared vehicles along the Front Range, will operate the EVs for the program. “Colorado CarShare is suitable for those who wish to reduce their carbon footprint; who commute using public transit, walking, bicycling, or other alternative modes; or who want to reduce their monthly transportation costs,” said Executive Director, Peter Krahenbuhl. “The two shared vehicles will include a Toyota BZ4X and a Kia Niro EV, both equipped with snow tires. The BZ4X is an AWD model and is equipped with both a ski/snowboard and bike rack, making it an ideal fit for the mountain lifestyle.”
To use the vehicles, the first step is to apply to become a member by signing up at www.carshare.org (Use promo code BRECK_X to have the $25 application fee waived, and the first 100 people will also receive $50 of carshare credit preloaded to their accounts). After becoming a member, you can reserve the vehicles up to 4 months in advance. Vehicle reservations can be made for as little as 15 minutes or up to multiple days. Then simply go get your vehicle at the time you reserved. Return it to the same location where you picked it up when you are done.
Town staff will be hosting a launch event on Wednesday June 28th, adjacent to the bike-to-work-day aid station at Blue River Plaza. Stop by the tent from 7:30am-11:00am to check out the vehicles and learn more about the program. Staff will be available to explain how to sign-up and get the most out of the program.
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