Image via jalopnik.comAmericans love driving cars, but this affinity comes with a price: lots of cars mean lots of emissions. For those who prefer the convenience of driving, yet yearn to protect the environment, PhillyCarShare is a great compromise. The car-sharing program gives members access to vehicles throughout the city by “sharing” them on an hourly basis.
This past August, PCS was acquired by Enterprise Holdings Corporation, which owns and operates Enterprise Rent-A-Car. And though we may lament the loss of a locally owned nonprofit, the merger has allowed PCS to replace their entire fleet and even better, add hybrids, alternatively-fueled vehicles and the extended range electric Chevy Volt. With more cars PCS is reaching more residents and has expanded into 23 neighborhoods.
These developments haven’t gone unnoticed. PennFuture presented PCS with the Green Power: Turn It On! award for their work promoting the clean-energy economy of Pennsylvania as one of the largest car-sharing programs in North America.
Back in 2010, PCS cited taking 4,500 cars off the roads—the equivalent of 7,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants per year. With this addition of more energy efficient vehicles, we can expect PCS’s environmental protection efforts to only grow.
For more information and to find a location near you, visit phillycarshare.com.
