Blog of RENAULT NISSAN Alliance

Electric vehicles have adopted a new role as promoters of social and economic change thanks to a car sharing scheme in the French city of Reims – and the Renault ZOE and Twizy were selected to launch the service.

Centered on key neighborhoods across the city, the "Plurial'Move" initiative aims to provide increased mobility – at extremely low prices – to students, young workers, the unemployed, local retailers and charity workers. The overall objective is to facilitate access to employment and provide a boost to local communities.

This innovative scheme has been created by the housing group Plurial, which paid for the installation of the charging stations and the vehicles. Through partnerships with different charitable organizations, the company is able to offer users a rental rate of just 0.50 euros per half-hour, making it less expensive than public transport.

At the moment, Plurial'Move is available at four sites, including a social housing complex, a student residence hall, and an area with local businesses and charities which may need a vehicle for deliveries. Three of the sites are equipped with a Renault ZOE and one with a Renault Twizy. To reserve their vehicle, members log on to a dedicated website and are then sent a code via text message to open a box containing the car keys.

Plans are already afoot to extend the services to other sites, including a retirement home – and if there is sufficient demand, Plurial'Move could be opened up to the general public in 2015.

Read more from the press release here (in French).

Photo credit: via Avem