Nation’s first Electric CarShare Vehicle-to-Building (V2B) Technology!

Colorado CarShare and The Alliance Center are excited to announce a partnership that will improve community mobility while reducing carbon and costs! The goal — tackle climate challenges and maximize positive impacts for business and society. 

Earlier this year, The Alliance Center announced a vehicle-to-building (V2B) project in collaboration with Fermata Energy. The pilot will connect electric vehicles (EVs), grid electrification and building resiliency to combat climate change in a unique way. Colorado CarShare strengthens this project by incorporating EV car sharing into the equation. Specifically, the shared EV will be available to The Alliance Center staff and tenants along with the broader community. The electric vehicle’s battery will serve as a demand resource by providing power to The Alliance Center when it is parked. 

Bi-directional charging where vehicle provides power to the building

“Not only will this effort help reduce the building’s reliance on energy during high-cost demand events, but the community will be able to access a zero emission vehicle,” said Chris Bowyer, director of building operations at The Alliance Center. 

The car will also replace an estimated 9 to 13 individually-owned vehicles due to its carsharing model. This would be equivalent to the CO2 emissions equivalent to between 4,600 and 6,800 gallons of gasoline per year. 

This opportunity allows The Alliance Center, Fermata Energy and Colorado CarShare to be at the forefront of V2B and EV technologies and is one of the first partnerships of its kind in the world combining carsharing and V2B to a building business model.

As a fundamental tenet of Colorado CarShare is to serve our community by providing sustainable mobility solutions, including shared electric vehicles, we are excited to partner on this national first with The Alliance Center and Fermata Energy. We expect this initiative to act as a catalyst for many more shared electric vehicle (V2B) charging stations in similar communities around Denver and beyond.

Free CarShare Use for COVID-19 Vaccinations!

Colorado CarShare is now offering *free CarShare rides to COVID-19 vaccine appointments for our community’s most vulnerable!

In pursuit of our mission to support increased social, economic and mobility access and equity, we are currently providing free car share use for people at higher risk of illness. This includes 65+ year old adults, front-line workers, and other qualifying members gain access to vaccines.

How?

First of all, make sure that you are a Colorado CarShare Member! If you are not yet, click here to join and choose a carshare rate plan, including plans for residents of qualified affordable housing programs.

Just schedule your vaccine appointment, reserve a Colorado CarShare vehicle for your appointment time, and send us verification of your appointment time and place! Then, we will then cover the cost of your car share fee for your time during that appointment (read: No you can’t add on a ski trip to the freebie!).

We’re happy to extend this offer to new members as well – so tell your family and friends! They can contact us via email ([email protected]) for more information on how to receive a waived application fee and free ride to their vaccine appointment! 

When?

Now until we run out of credit for this program!

* Compensation up to $25, must provide verification of appointment time and location, for a limited time only – general population vaccine distribution do not qualify.

Colorado CarShare & City of Denver Launch Electric Car Share Program

Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency (CASR), Colorado Carshare and Denver Housing Authority (DHA) are thrilled to announce the expansion of an electric vehicle (EV) car share program into six under-resourced communities in Denver.

With support under the federal CARES Act this includes the deployment of six shared EVs and associated “charging stations” in order to improve local mobility options in these communities. Colorado CarShare is offering deeply discounted rates for residents in qualified housing programs (see below for locations). The project seeks to alleviate the economic, public health and safety impacts of the COVID-19 emergency, while meeting the City’s social equity, mobility and climate change goals.

Why is it important?

Many lower-income residents are experiencing challenges related to reaching necessities and services during the worst health and economic crisis in modern history. Safe, reliable, and affordable mobility options are a critical lifeline for groceries, employment, medical care and other basic human necessities. Yet many people deemed vulnerable do not own a personal vehicle.

CASR, in partnership with Colorado CarShare, previously piloted an electric carshare site in Denver’s Mariposa neighborhood in 2019 and based on the success of this location sought opportunities to expand the program.  They worked closely with Denver Housing Authority, the affordable housing provider for Denver, to find potential sites that were located in under resourced communities and which could support additional shared EVs as compliments to other mobility options.

“It has long been a fundamental tenet of Colorado CarShare to serve our community in mixed-income areas, and we are excited to take this step forward in sustainability with CASR and Denver Housing Authority,” said Colorado CarShare’s CEO Peter Krahenbuhl. “We expect this initiative to act as a catalyst for many more shared electric vehicles in similar communities around Denver,” Krahenbuhl continued.

Carshare Locations

The new EV carshare locations include:

  • 2855 Tremont St, Denver Motor Vehicles Building, Five Points/Whittier Neighborhoods
  • 330 24th Ave, Denver Housing Authority, Five Points Neighborhood
  • 10th and Decatur, Denver Housing Authority, Sun Valley, Sun Valley Neighborhood
  • 1024 Navajo, Denver Housing Authority, Lincoln Park Neighborhood
  • 2004 Chestnut Place, City lot, Union Station/Five Points Neighborhoods
  • 1600 N Downing St, Urban Land Conservancy, City Park West Neighborhood

If you or anyone you know lives in a DHA or other qualified affordable housing program, please contact [email protected], as you may qualify for a greatly discounted carshare service!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s all EV Carsharing we go! (ish)

We are super excited to announce the fact that we enter 2021 with nearly 25% of our carshare fleet electrified! That’s right, we now have a dozen electric vehicles (EVs) or plug-in hybrid electric (PHEVs)! The journey has been an adventure, one that we’re just beginning!

The Adventure Began!

In the summer of 2017 Colorado CarShare (then eGo CarShare) commissioned the development of a roadmap to electrify our fleet. Our intent was to become the nation’s first electric vehicle (EV) car share nonprofit in order to better align our mobility, social equity and environmental values. The goal: to create a replicable, scalable model that could amplify shared electric mobility across Colorado and beyond.

Our roadmap included a 2-tiered analysis regarding how we could (attempt to) accomplish this:

  1. Internal considerations: operations, finances, etc.
  2. External issues: EV technology/costs, charging stations, and related location partnerships (i.e. we don’t own buildings)

Needless to say, we were admittedly a bit optimistic and perhaps slightly naive regarding how difficult it would be. But…we’re stubborn, and by 2018 we decided we’d give it a go, starting with our one existing plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV). By 2019 we had 3 EVs/PHEVs. We added a few more in 2020, and we’re launching 2021 now with a dozen shared EVs on the road!

For us this is huge, as it means we’re approaching 25% of our fleet of 50 vehicles that are now electrified. While serving mixed income communities we’re getting carbon out of the air! Plus our EVs are just super fun to drive…like a spaceship! As a part of this, we are now partnering with the City of Denver to launch electrified car sharing in low-income neighborhoods. Read more about that here. And we will continue to strive toward full electrification just as soon as we possibly can.

If you know of any potential partnerships that would help us to achieve our goals (especially locations with charging stations), please let us know!

 

eGo Alert – Time to Say Goodbye? Say it Ain’t So!

Dear eGo Amigos & Amigas!

Many of you have stepped up in a HUGE way and provided extra support since COVID-19 began (see below), and we THANK YOU SO MUCH!! But Coronavirus is getting the better of us.

While our staff has already taken voluntary pay and time cuts in order to save our home-grown family (so please be patient with us), we really need your help now more than ever. It’s not too late! Here’s how you can help eGo survive, thrive and build a more prosperous, resilient and sustainable Colorado…

Free Credit for Medical/Healthcare & Volunteers

 
If you are a medical or health professional, or a volunteer for a nonprofit like Boulder Food Rescue, Denver’s ALittleHelp.org or part of a formal Covid-19 response effort, we want to show you our gratitude and help the helpers with free eGo CarShare usage. Give us a call at 303-720-1185 to redeem.

Not a Volunteer? Please Donate!

 
If everyone donates just $25-$50, we can continue to offer you low cost access to vehicles when you need them, now and beyond the crisis. Your impact will be doubled as our Board will match every penny donated up to $5,000!

Sponsor an eGo Car & Get Prepaid Credit!

As COVID continues to take its toll, we are being forced to scale back. If you want to ensure that your neighborhood car stays put, please consider sponsoring an eGo vehicle while getting free carshare credit as a win-win!

  • $100 earns you a 10% bonus ($110 in credit) + neighborhood car stays put for 1 week
  • $500 earns you a 15% bonus ($575 in credit) + neighborhood car stays put for 1 month
  • $1000 earns you a 25% bonus ($1250 in credit) + neighborhood car stays put for 2 months

Just give us a call at 303-720-1185 and mention “Credit 100/500/1000” depending on how much of a bonus you want.

Dedicated Weekly Rates!

For a flat rate of $238, you can keep an eGo Car for up to one week all to yourself!* And as with all eGo vehicles, this includes gas and insurance (less the $1k damage deductible unless you are signed up for our damage fee waiver program). AND we are including the first 250 miles free! Just give us a call at 303-720-1185 to book your favorite “at-home” vehicle!

 
Includes gas, insurance, and first 250 miles ($0.20/mile after) for Standard 2WD vehicles(additional $10/day or $70/week surcharge for AWD or truck)

Get Out(side)!

It took a global pandemic for the world to finally acknowledge that nature is in fact a critical, “essential” human service, one that we all need now more than ever! Even with our current Stay at Home order you are allowed to Get Outdoors, but #BeCovidSafe and keep your distance!
We continue to work hard to keep you safe, with increased sanitation efforts. We also ask that you please use the provided wet wipes / sanitation before and after your trips. For more information visit the CDC’s website.

Thank you for supporting your community carshare! ~ eGo CarShare

eGo CarShare’s mission is to empower our community to live a car-free lifestyle and have a positive impact on our health, wealth, and shared environment. We aim to make Colorado a “Cooler”, healthier and more socially equitable place to live.

COVID response – Weekly Rate Bookings

Okay folks, it’s official – Gov. Polis announced a statewide stay-at-home order that will last through at least April 11, longer in several counties. Importantly, public transportation & mobility orgs are exempt. That said, RTD, Uber and Lyft are cutting back, while eGo remains in full force…for now. Under the orders, you are allowed to leave your homes to shop for essential needs, such as groceries and medications, and to go to work if your job qualifies as exempt. And yes, you can still go outside for exercise as an “essential activity” (Denver Post) — and here’s how we can help…

 

Keep a Dedicated Weekly Carshare…at Your Home!

Are you committed to the “At-home” order but still need to get out for necessities, appointments or just plain old exercise/nature healing? ‘Want your own dedicated eGo car? Well, we got your back! In response to COVID-19, we are currently offering a deeply discounted weekly “at home” carshare plan.

For a flat rate of $238, you can keep an eGo Car for up to one week all to yourself!* And as with all eGo vehicles, this includes gas and insurance (less the $1k damage deductible unless you are signed up for our damage fee waiver program). AND we are including the first 250 miles free!

*Standard 2WD vehicles; $10/day/$70/week surcharge for AWD vehicles or eGo truck; $0.20/mile after 250 miles

eGo is Here if you Need Us!  …for now.

WE WILL NOT BE HERE WHEN THE STAY AT HOME ORDER IS OVER WITHOUT YOUR HELP!

Now more than ever we need your help if we are to survive and continue to be a vital resource to our community during and beyond the current crisis.

If everyone donates just $10-$25, we can likely weather the Covid-19 storm and continue to offer you low cost access to vehicles when you need them. Your impact will be doubled as our Board will match every penny donated up to $5,000!

 

Prepaid Credit

Prepaid credit is a win-win! By prepaying* you get free carshare credit with an up-front investment while supporting eGo.

  • $100 earns you a 10% bonus ($110 in credit)
  • $500 earns you a 15% bonus ($575 in credit)
  • $1000 earns you a 25% bonus ($1250 in credit)

Just give us a call at 303-720-1185 and mention “Credit 100/500/1000” depending on how much of a bonus you want.

 

COVID-19 eGO Safety Response

We continue to work hard to keep you safe, with increased sanitation efforts and additional attention to the high-touch places. We also ask that you please use the provided wet wipes / sanitation before and after your trips. For more information on prevention tips, visit the CDC’s website.

Thank you for supporting your community carshare!

Sincerely,

~ eGo CarShare

eGo CarShare is here for you – Give & Get FREE credit!

Help us Continue to Serve You!

Dear eGo Amigos/Amigas!

For over 20 years eGo CarShare has kept our (car) doors open, and recently we have heard from you that we are a vital public service and for many, a life-line at this critical time. As mentioned in our last newsletter, we are working hard to keep our fleet clean, healthy and in service for you.

Please consider donating to keep eGo CarShare available to you and those most vulnerable in our community. OR invest in your future trips with prepaid bonus credit.

Hear from Noelle about how eGo helps her get to the food bank!
Now more than ever we need your help if we are to survive and continue to be a vital resource to our community during and beyond the current crisis.

If everyone donates just $10-$25, we can likely weather the Covid-19 storm and continue to offer you low cost access to vehicles when you need them. Your impact will be doubled as our Board will match every penny donated up to $5,000!

Prepaid Credit

Prepaid credit is a win-win! By prepaying* you get free carshare credit with an up-front investment while supporting eGo.

  • $100 earns you a 10% bonus ($110 in credit)
  • $500 earns you a 15% bonus ($575 in credit)
  • $1000 earns you a 25% bonus ($1250 in credit)

Just give us a call at 303-720-1185 and mention “Credit 100/500/1000” depending on how much of a bonus you want.

Keeping You Safe

As mentioned in our last newsletter, we continue to work hard to keep you safe, with increased sanitation efforts and additional attention to the high-touch places. We also ask that you please use the provided wet wipes / sanitation before and after your trips. For more information on prevention tips, visit the CDC’s website.

Thank you for supporting your community carshare!

Sincerely,

~ eGo CarShare

Important Coronavirus Update

Let’s Keep Each Other Safe!

Dear eGo Amigo(a)s,

As you know, your health and safety are always our top priority. As such, at eGo CarShare we are closely monitoring development of COVID-19 and receiving guidance from local, national and global health authorities. There are several ways we can help to ensure the wellness and safety of all eGo Members and staff:

  • If you feel any of the common symptoms (including fever, sore throat, cough, or difficulty breathing), please follow the guidelines from the CDC’s website, and DO NOT use an eGo vehicle until you are cleared by health authorities;
  • If you have used an eGo vehicle while experiencing symptoms, please contact us immediately at 303-720-1185;
  • Wash or sanitize your hands each time before entering the vehicle and do the same again when you exit. Wipe down all high use touch points before and after use with wipes provided. We are taking extra measures to ensure all our vehicles have sanitation wipes (typically in the glove box) and or disinfectant;
  • Avoid touching your face completely; if you need to sneeze or cough (hey it’s allergy season!) please do so into your arm/elbow or tissue you will discard, and exit the vehicle first if that’s possible.;

In addition, our staff are being supported through regular communication on appropriate hygiene measures at our workplace and in our vehicles. Our Fleet managers in particular continue to work hard to keep our vehicles clean. Their sanitation efforts have increased at each car they visit, with additional attention to the high-touch places. Specific health and safety measure include: 

  • Staff wears masks and gloves
  • Staff temperature checks
  • Contactless payments for all customers
  • Hand sanitizer provided in vehicles
  • Sanitizing vehicles between customers

In addition to our staff support, it’s times like these that amazing members like you pitching in can really make a difference!

As always, we’re here for you. For more information on symptoms and prevention, head to the CDC’s website. With a little effort and attention, we can keep each other safe. Thanks for doing your part!

Sincerely,

~ eGo CarShare Team!

,

Car2Go is Car2Gone but eGo CarShare is here to STAY!

Is the world’s largest car share company gone from Denver (and other markets)? Yep! As Streetsblog USA and others report, Car2Go is Car2Gone! Unfortunately this may result in more individual car ownership in the Denver Metro region. In fact we’ve heard from frustrated Car2Go Members looking for alternatives, including purchasing a vehicle.

In response, at eGo CarShare we are committing to ramping up our carshare service in Denver. We are also offering Car2Go members free eGo CarShare Membership by simply using the promo code Car2Gone when they sign up. This is a part of our mission to reduce single occupancy vehicle (SOV) ownership and use in Colorado.

As with previous carshare casualties, Enterprise and Maven (owned by GM), Car2Go is the latest symptom of ginormous companies entering what they think is a lucrative space (shared mobility). But they don’t  actually understand the market and how increasingly competitive it is, especially with shorter trips.

We, on the other hand, are a 21 year young, hyper-local Colorado nonprofit dedicated to reducing SOV ownership & use. In doing so we compliment alternative mobility options like bike sharing and public transit. We also support socially-equitable mobility in lower income areas, while electrifying our fleet in order to amplify environmental benefits. We do so by working with the City, foundations, businesses, nonprofits and other mobility partners in order to meet our mission and not have to focus only on the bottom line.

We’re here for you, Colorado, because we are you!

The Future is Electric!!!

We all know that traffic congestion is an enormous issue in cities all over the country. The nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide levels in the air increase daily; therefore, our health and the environment are directly impacted.

Thankfully, the world has started to act and today there is the increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs), which can be a key action to creating a transition for a sustainable world. According to a recent U.S. News article, by choosing to drive an EV you are helping to reduce harmful air pollution from exhaust emissions and contribute to better air quality.

The market is also jumping on board to support a greener world. Companies like Volvo, Tesla, and Toyota all have electric vehicles and according to The Driven, “By 2030 there will be 21 million electric vehicles on the road globally”. Read more about this on U.S News.