Urban residents in Baltimore, Maryland, have a chance to go green at the city’s Inner Harbour, as manufacturer Electrovaya launched the country’s first electric car sharing programme.
The company is offering its Maya 300 for rent at the Maryland Science Centre as a showcase of new technology. The vehicle can travel up to 120miles on one charge of its lithium-ion battery system and is powered by a regular 100V outlet.
Electrovaya has labelled the fleet of emission-free cars a “game changer” in urban transportation. It believes that the vehicle has both the look and feel of a four-door petrol powered saloon car and should appeal to customers looking to reduce their oil dependence.
According to research from the Maryland Energy Administration, Baltimore residents typically travel about 30 miles to work, which is well within the Maya’s range. If more charge is needed however, the vehicle can be charged at the driver’s destination for a small fee – driving 50 miles is expected to cost about $1 in energy.
The company’s battery technology has been made possible by ExxonMobil Corp’s battery separator film which allows for the units to operate at high temperatures with a reduced risk of meltdown. It is also designed to shut down the flow of electricity if the engine is overheating.
Ten vehicles were made available on Wednesday through the new car sharing website Altcar.org. A two hour trip costs around $29 with concessions for science centre members. Businesses and local governments will also have the option to buy the Maya 300 – the company will make the cars available to the public in 2011 with prices starting at $25,000 for a 60mile range vehicles and $35,000 for a 120mile range vehicle.
