It was bound to happen, sooner or later.  After the kibbutz – the classic Israeli collective community where members shared everything – urban car sharing services were only a hop, skip, and a car engine purr away.

Thanks to new Israeli company, Car2go, the concept of car sharing (which has already enjoyed great success all over the world, including New York and New Jersey thanks to Zipcar) has arrived in Tel Aviv.

So how does car sharing work and why is it green?

Car sharing is a more accessible type of car rental where you can rent cars by the hour.  It especially makes sense for urbanites that rely mostly on public transportation while in the city, but who still need to use a private car now and then and don’t want to own a personal vehicle.

So car sharing is green because it basically turns occassional car rental into another form of public transportation.  If more people used car sharing instead of owning personal cars – a lot fewer cars would be crowding city streets.  And if the green incentives aren’t enough, it works out to be much cheaper too.

Different car sharing companies operate differently, but here’s how it works with Car2go:  You become a member and get an electronic card (which grants you access to Car2go’s car fleet).  Before using a car you reserve it online or by phone.  You pick up the car at a designated spot (accessing it with your electronic member car), use it for however long you want, and then return the car to the same spot when you’re done.

Read more about other environmentally friendly car alternatives in the region:: Electric Cars in Gaza: Necessity is the Mother of Invention!, My Parents and the Pleasures of Owning a Prius in Israel, Segway Mobile Tourism Information Points Hit Tel Aviv and Jaffa and Carbon Neutral Car Rentals with Avis Israel

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