Parking operator launches car-sharing service

Springwise readers are already well-acquainted with Zipcar, the car-sharing service we first featured back in 2003. In April 2007 we wrote about Zipcar’s partnership with ParkAtMyHouse.com in the UK, allowing its cars to be dispersed even more finely throughout the parking spots of London. Now, thinking along similar lines, one of the leading parking operators in New York City has launched its own, competing car-sharing service for residents of the Big Apple. Like Zipcar, Mint offers its members 24/7 access to its cars for as little as an hour or as much as several days. The company maintains a diverse fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles as well as fun ones for special occasions, and it frees members from having to worry about car payments, insurance, maintenance, parking or even gas. Each member gets a smartcard, which unlocks Mint cars and also begins and ends a member’s reservation. All gas is paid for by Mint using a gas card located in each car—members must simply fill up when the car dips to a quarter tank—and an E-ZPass is included in each car as well, so tolls can be simply added to the reservation charge at the end of the month. To become a member of Mint, drivers pay an application fee of USD 25, which gets them one free year of membership. Hourly rates begin as low as USD 2 per hour, including 180 free miles per day. Since any car-sharing service is going to need a ready supply of parking spots, it makes good sense to recognize that synergy from the get-go. Mint hopes to expand to other cities in the future—particularly if you’re a parking operator, could be one to get in on early! Spotted by: Cecilia Biemann