Mevo car share seeks essential status

Wellington-based car share Mevo wants to be considered an essential service during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Mevo chief executive Erik Zydervelt is asking cabinet ministers and the NZ Transport Agency to change its non-essential service restrictions, especially as taxis and rideshares like Uber are allowed to continue, including similar services globally.

“While we agree with 99% of what the government has done during the pandemic, this is one area that just doesn’t qualify,” he says.

“Currently, with ride-hailing and taxis, people are forced to be close to a driver who has been exposed to dozens of others, and sitting less than two metres apart puts everyone involved at risk.

“With Mevo there’s no need to be close to anyone else – we’re keeping people safe through the service being completely automated and having medical grade UVC sterilisation and cleaning before a customer takes a car.”

Zydervelt says for those reasons Mevo is actually safer and should be allowed to continue operating rather than just working with essential health service customers.

Clients use an app to select the vehicle they want – including plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) – from specific Wellington parking areas then returning them to an approved site, so avoiding contact with anyone else.

Zydervelt says many customers sold their vehicles to use Mevo.

It makes more financial sense to completely shut down, but Mevo has a moral obligation to keep its members safe, he adds.

Zydervelt says if restrictions are placed on car share businesses such as Mevo then all others – including taxis and Uber – should have the same restrictions.

If New Zealand reverts to a level three alert then Mevo could quickly resume while maintaining its high hygiene standards, he says.

He says some “heart-breaking” stories came from customers when they learned Mevo wouldn’t be classed an essential service.

“A number of people were relying on us so they could do grocery trips for elderly parents, for instance.”

“Some now , especially those in the plus 65 high risk group don’t feel safe going out to do that and being forced to sit close to a driver who is outside their bubble.”

Zydervelt says Mevo was having “exceptional growth” until the restrictions applied and will continue to look at providing the service in Auckland while also introducing 100 battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

Other car share services like zero-emission vehicle company Zilch, which says its cars are only available to essential services and businesses during the lockdown, may also benefit if restrictions are lifted for Mevo.