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FancyEnglish      Car-sharing service                         
                         hits new gear in China  百科知识 

      December 26, 2016

　

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Car-sharing service hits new gear in China Reporter: Liu Yang 丨 CCTV.com 12-26-2016 14:11 BJT People in China are finding a new way to get around. A car-sharing service is gaining popularity in China's southwest city of Chengdu. The service uses electric cars, which means it's eco-friendly on top of being convenient. A new way of getting around also aims to reduce CO2 emissions and promote the usage of electric vehicles. When using the EVCARD program, a commuter can easily rent and return a car on a mobile app. Fees are charged by the minute, starting from 0.5 RMB per minute. The driver is covered by up to 11 types of car insurance and rescue services to make the ride safer and easier. "I usually call a taxi or Didi to book a vehicle for my short-distance trips in the city during the day. The fees are high, and it's not eco-friendly. Car-sharing, I find very convenient, with no parking fees, and there are many spots nearby where you can rent the car," Yang Yang, customer of from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, said. The car models used in the service are Roewe and Chery. The company behind the service is looking to increase its fleet to 10,000 electric cars in the near future. The concept is aimed at easing traffic congestion and the frustrations of finding a place to park. "We want our car-sharing service to be a supplement to taxi and bus services. We want our customers to like using electric vehicles. It is a self- service, and people can use it when other transportation is unavailable," Liu Junyi, assistant to the GM of Global Carsharing & Rental Company, said. The development of shared-use mobility reduces the need for private car ownership and helps reduce total vehicle miles travelled. Experts say car-sharing in China only has a 0.4 percent market penetration, far behind countries in Southeast Asia and Europe. "The average private car usage is 2 hours maximum per day, and the rest of the time it stays in the parking lot; whereas, one car-sharing vehicle can be used up to 8 times per day," Liu Ke, deputy director of Sichuan Economic and Information Commission, said. Based on analyses of car-sharing services in Europe, experts expect 700,000 people will sell their private cars or give up thoughts of buying a second one in the next 3 to 5 years. Transportation looks to become even greener and more efficient. CCTV News / CNTV