Philadelphia Car Sharing Company PhillyCarShare Upgrades Inventory

PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 07, 2010 (Press-News.org) Philadelphia-based car share program, PhillyCarShare, has embarked upon an ambitious fleet renewal program. Starting in September, members will have access to many shiny, new Mazda 5s, Toyota Matrixes, and Toyota Camrys which are being added to the fleet. As leases on their older vehicles expire, PhillyCarShare is adding energy-efficient vehicles chosen for their versatility.

In the annual member survey, members frequently mentioned wanting newer and multipurpose vehicles and this fleet renewal program will help PhillyCarShare better meet their members' needs. PhillyCarShare is dedicated to making car sharing more affordable than private ownership in Philadelphia, and maintains its commitment to keeping car sharing accessible to individuals, students and businesses.

Gerald Furgione, Executive Director of PhillyCarShare, acknowledges that improving the appearance of vehicles in the fleet has been a major concern. "My primary goal, since my first day as executive director last November, has been to improve the appearance of our vehicles. My team has initiated a comprehensive program of vehicle maintenance and nightly cleaning that has included switching to an eco-friendly waterless cleaning contractor. In the past, our non-profit organization has entered into long term leases on our vehicles in an attempt to reduce costs for our members. Now the opportunity presents itself to replace vehicles whose leases have expired. The lesson we have learned is that leases can be of shorter term and overall just as cost effective. Our new fleet replacement program is centered on shorter term leases for more frequent vehicle replacement so that we can continually cycle older cars out and new cars in to keep our car share fleet fresh. I am sure our members will see the difference as this new program revitalizes our fleet."

About PhillyCarShare
PhillyCarShare is a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization founded in 2002 with the mission of reducing automobile dependence in the Philadelphia region by offering a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to car ownership. Members receive a personal key to hundreds of low-emission cars, hybrids, trucks, and vans parked steps from their offices and homes. PhillyCarShare promotes an urban lifestyle in which members walk, bike, and take transit more, and save an average of $4,000 annually versus private vehicle ownership. In addition to the Philadelphia residents who participate in car sharing, PhillyCarShare currently serves our business community of over 1300 for-profit and non-profit companies, universities, and government agencies. For more information visit http://www.phillycarshare.org/.