Zip Cars 25 First Street

Two women from Cambridge have taken carpooling, a simple concept used by commuters for decades, to new levels. Antje Danielson and Robin Chase worked together to launch Zipcar: an idea inspired by the travel needs of the student population in Cambridge that has grown to an international scale. Zipcar customers, known as “Zipsters,” are able to find nearby, available cars and make reservations in less than an hour by logging in to an online account or using a mobile phone application. Once a time-slot is booked, a personalized Zipcard, carried by Zipcar subscribers, grants access to the waiting car. This timely transfer of shared cars between multiple Zipsters is possible due to an advanced system of tracking and wireless communication between the car and Zipcar’s organizing system.

Zipcars not only allow the convenience of suburban living in urban areas, but also reduce the number of cars on the road, in turn reducing carbon emissions. Because Zipsters only pay for the time they use a car, each individual is able to reduce both their personal cost of transportation and their impact on the environment. By pricing car transportation per hour, Zipcar’s innovative model draws attention to the need for cars as a means of transportation, enhancing efficiency over the “must-have” mentality of most car ownership. This heightened awareness has led to an increase in public transportation, biking, and walking among Zipsters-- and not solely in the direction of waiting Zipcars.

Company focus on environmentalism and sustainability manifests in Zipcar’s targeting of colleges and businesses: two areas with high demand for sustainable yet practical carpooling. Headquartered at 25 First Street in Cambridge, Zipcar’s approach to car sharing, utilizing advanced technology to ensure a sustainable and efficient system, and easing the strains of city living, is truly unique and innovative approach to modern, personal transportation.

Sources:
http://www.zipcar.com/
http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=11382
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/06/zipcar-iphone/
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/27/zipcar-adds-toyota-prius-plug-in-hybrids-to-fleet/
http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/market-insight-top.pag?docid=190795176