Car2go cuts Richmond, North Vancouver coverage
Company cites low demand, says cars sit idle too long in Richmond
Those little car2go Smart cars won't be available in much of Richmond much longer.
The company announced it is discontinuing the majority of its one-way carsharing service in Richmond, and shrinking its service area in North Vancouver starting Feb. 1.
Only three locations in Richmond will remain active in the car2go home area: YVR, Kwantlen College, and the Mitchell Island Sports Centre.
In a notice to members, the company blames low demand for the scaling back, noting that vehicles parked in Richmond sit idle for for over 13 hours a day on average.
"To put it in perspective in the rest of the home area cars will sit for two hours," said Justin MacDonald, regional marketing manager for car2go. "By discontinuing service in the areas where cars are utilized the least we're able to improve the circulation of vehicle throughout the rest of the home area."
Macdonald says Vancouver car2go has the largest membership and fleet in North America with 95,000 members and 1275 vehicles.
In North Vancouver the service will be reduced slightly by a half square kilometer in the western most portion of the North Van home area.
Car2go expanded to Richmond in December of 2014.
According to reports, the company also announced it is closing its Copenhagen, Denmark operations.