Yoogo aims for Whangarei EV car share

Yoogo Share aims to expand its electric car share service into Whangarei.

The service was officially launched in Christchurch by prime minister Jacinda Ardern in February.

At a recent Northland Regional Council meeting, Yoogo explained how it encouraged big employers to give up some of their fleet cars and share with a wider electric vehicle (EV) pool fleet, the Northern Advocate

reports.

Yoogo has 100 EVs and 100 chargers at eight hubs in Christchurch, and charges a business rate of $12 an hour for an EV’s use.

Costs are offset by also allowing the public to hire the cars — at $14.50 an hour. Per-kilometre costs apply after an initial free 180km.

Yoogo Share general manager Kirsten Corson says fleet sharing, with no capital expenditure and no monthly fee, is attractive to small businesses unable to afford late-model, five-star-safety rated cars.

Benefits include reducing climate-change emissions.

Corson says the Christchurch fleet has already saved 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Research shows a share car usually displaces between five and 15 private cars.

Whangarei could have three or four hubs, with two to three EVs per hub.

Corson told the meeting the cars are groomed every fortnight, insurance is included but some firms choose to self-insure, and they can be booked via a cell phone app, usually with a less than two-minute delay.

Users require an RFID card or smartphone to unlock or lock the car. It has to be picked up and dropped off at the same point, although Yoogo is working on allowing one-way trips.

Northland EV advocate Joe Camuso says it’s a great opportunity for Whangarei people to try an EV.

“Car sharing could also allow two-car families to potentially own one and share one when needed,” he says.

“Owning a car comes with a lot of intrinsic costs, such as registration, warrant of fitness, insurance, fuel and maintenance. With fuel prices on the rise, this is a great way to counter that cost.”