car2go Electric Car Sharing Program Arrives in San Diego

You’ve likely heard the suggestions to carpool, bike ride and reduce chemical emissions over the past few years, urging you to think twice about how you get around. And hopefully it has. Our carbon footprint is growing with each car ride. So why aren’t more people consciously acting to change their motor ways? The most popular excuse seems to be inconvenience, as we all crave to get in our car and drive when we want, where we want, at the most accessible rates.

Good news, San Diego. The first all-electric carsharing program in North America has arrived to our city, and it’s revving up quite a storm.

How does car2go work? San Diego residents and car-drivers everywhere will have access to the vehicles 24 hours a day, seven days a week. At your fingertips, these enviro-friendly cars require no reservations to be made in advance. Drivers can cruise for as long as needed, without having to commit to a specific time or location to return the vehicle. The charges come by the minute and users pay only for the time they use the vehicle. What’s even better is parking, recharging, insurance and maintenance are included at no additional cost to members.

For a limited time, registration for car2go is free. There will be no monthly fees, and you only pay for the minutes you use. New members signing up will get their first 30 minutes of driving time free. Register at sandiego.car2go.com and use promotional code: CHARGED. This offer expires March 11th, 2012.

The program is non-committal, meaning after your drive-sesh is over, there’s no specific return time or parking location to leave the vehicle at. Park it and walk away, as simple as that. Downtown, users can leave the car in any public parking space when they’re ready to end their rental (meter fees included). There are also dedicated parking spots meant only for car2go downtown.

Miss the launch event? View pictures in our photo gallery.

The cars can be used for a variety of reasons and lengths of time. Some might just need a ride to the airport, while others are looking for a drive to PB to spend a day at the beach. The effortless convenience lays in the fact that the car can be left anywhere, dropped off so you can move on to your next destination. The environmentally-conscious aspects are worth considering, too, as the cars complement existing public transportation commute.

For more information, visit car2go San Diego on Facebook. You can also find available cars and make reservations in advance with streamlined smartphone apps on Androids or iPhones.

Discover more San Diego entertainment ideas and follow our San Diego lifestyle blog