(Door slams, car beeps)
That’s the sound of one of Grand Rapids’ five new four-door Chevy Bolt electric vehicles now for rent.
The vehicles are parked at charging stations spread across the city’s three wards, offering a $5 an hour rate and 150 miles to start, available to people 21 and older with a valid driver’s license, clean driving record and payment card.
Creighton Randall is with Mobility Development which runs the program. He says people can download the app, set up an account and be vetted in 3 to 5 business days.
“You can go to the car, and everything works from the app. You unlock/lock from the app. Start and end your booking from the app. You can book for an hour or book for a day.”
Randall says it’s a convenient, affordable option for short-term transportation such as to job interviews or doctor’s appointments.
“People generally will rent it for a couple of hours to get a couple of things done together. They’re going to get laundry done and grocery shop all at once. Spending five dollars an hour beats Uber and beats renting a car for a whole day.”
City leaders say the program also promotes sustainability and offers an affordable transportation option for low- and moderate-income residents.
They partnered with Consumers Energy to install EV charging stations in the Car Share lots with one spot reserved for the DART rental car and the other available for public use.
