Flexcar Makes Getting a Hybrid Easy in San Diego

SAN DIEGO--Oct. 2, 20054, 2005--With two dozen Honda Civic Hybrids parked within a 3-minute walk of every building in downtown San Diego and available for hourly use, getting a car is now as easy as getting a cup of coffee or cash from an ATM. This convenience will make it easier for residents, businesses and commuters to have access to a car when they need one, without the cost, hassles and expense of ownership. Flexcar, whose membership has also doubled in the past year, has doubled its fleet size and is offering a double incentive to join: free membership and free annual fee for those who join and drive before December 31st, 2005 (details are available on the company's website at www.flexcar.com/sandiego).

With San Diego having some of the highest insurance and gas prices and some of the worst congestion in the country, individuals and businesses are increasingly looking for ways to save on transportation, but not at the expense of convenience. With more than 20 cars in downtown San Diego, they're finding Flexcar can provide both convenient and cost-effective access to a vehicle without the cost and hassles of ownership. With its new concentration of vehicles in downtown, residents and workers are now never more than a 3 minute walk from the nearest Flexcar location. In keeping with its commitment to the environment, 100 percent of the new vehicles are Honda Civic Hybrids.

"The higher gas prices get and the longer people sit in traffic, the more our phones ring and our membership rolls swell," said William del Valle, the general manager of Flexcar's San Diego operations. "We're adding more cars to not only meet the increased demand from our existing members, but also ensure enough availability for the increasing numbers of new members."

Flexcar's innovative program provides its members with on-demand access to a fleet of low emission vehicles, including gas/electric hybrids, pickup trucks and minivans located throughout seven major metro areas, including San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Chicago and Washington, D.C. It is the only carsharing service with operations throughout the state and up and down the West Coast. Members reserve the vehicles for hourly use with Flexcar covering the cost of the car, gas, parking, insurance, and maintenance. Paying by the hour, members can enjoy the freedom of car ownership without the hassles and costs.

Downtown San Diego resident Constance Parmiter joined Flexcar in June 2005 and has found the convenience and savings compelling. "I live in the Marina District and usually work from home. Because I simply walk to work when I need to I found that I was really only using my car on weekends, and even then, for short periods of time," said Parmiter. "Using Flexcar, which has a car in our building and another just a block away, I've been able to save about $250 dollars a month, yet still have a car when I need one. Flexcar's service has been outrageously convenient."

Flexcar has partnered with a number of other organizations, businesses and agencies to make carsharing a vital part of the region's infrastructure. It has placed cars in Sorrento Valley for use by commuters, and is currently offering discounted membership to Coaster riders. It has also partnered with several downtown property managers and real estate developers to include vehicles in apartment buildings, office towers and condominiums.

Among the many benefits of Flexcar's program are:

-- Members Don't Pay for Gas, Insurance, Parking: Flexcar's hourly or discounted monthly usage charge includes gas, insurance, and a prime parking place. Members don't pay a day-long rental rate when they only need a car for a few hours - they pay only for what they use.

-- Business Partners Receive Discounts for Rentals: Business members can encourage employees to take public transportation into the City, while making cars available for meetings throughout the day. In addition, businesses get free overnight hours, making cars available for free to employees who stay late and then face limited availability from public transportation services.

-- State/Nationwide Network: Not only can San Diego Flexcar members access Flexcar elsewhere in California, but also across the country thanks to Flexcar's nationwide network of vehicles.

-- A "Green" Choice: Carsharing is proven to reduce congestion and auto emissions, making it an environmentally-sound choice. Flexcar goes the next step, by offering a fleet that consists largely of fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles -- and then by planting trees to offset the minimal carbon emissions of that fleet through its partnership with American Forests.

-- Convenient and Hassle-Free: Unlike car rental companies with a handful of locations at often inconvenient, airport sites, Flexcar's vehicles are parked near members' offices and homes. And there's no waiting in line at counters to use a vehicle -- members reserve online, go straight to the car, use their personalized Flexcard to unlock the vehicle, and then just drive away.

Since launching the US carsharing industry in 1998, Flexcar has since won numerous awards and commendations for reducing congestion, air pollution and energy use, and increasing use of public transit while contributing to sustainable communities. Research from Flexcar as well as independent entities has clearly shown that carsharing programs take cars off the road, reduce annual miles traveled and increase the use of public transit. These studies indicate that roughly 60 percent of members have either sold or decided not to purchase a vehicle because of the program, thus removing thousands of vehicles and thousands of tons of emissions from circulation.

More information on Flexcar is available online at www.flexcar.com/sandiego or by calling 619.262.FLEX (3539).

Flexcar founded the U.S. car-sharing industry and now operates car-sharing programs for more than 30,000 members in seven metropolitan areas, covering 37 cities in 6 states and the District of Columbia. With flexible pricing plans, members can reserve and drive any of these cars whenever and wherever they need to, without filling out complicated paperwork, paying for insurance, gas or repairs. Flexcar Business Memberships enable companies to augment or replace their fleet with Flexcar vehicles. Flexcar's fleet includes sedans, gas-electric hybrids, and specialty vehicles including pickups, AWD, minivans and convertibles. AOL Founder Steve Case and auto industry legend Lee Iacocca are board members and investors/owners of Flexcar.