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Zipcar, a provider of cars-on-demand by the hour or day, announced it has launched a pilot program for plug-in hybrid vehicles in its Bay Area fleet through a partnership with the city of San Francisco. The company made the announcement at a press conference with Mayor Gavin Newsom, which showcased the converted Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid at a special charging station across the street from City Hall.

Zipcar is supporting the Mayor's drive to increase the awareness and use of electric vehicles (EVs), while also providing a convenient, cost-effective solution to consumer transportation needs. In a member survey last month, more than 80 percent of the respondents voiced support for the addition of electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and alternative fuel vehicles to the fleet.

The plug-in hybrid for the San Francisco Zipcar fleet is a Toyota Prius converted with the HymotionTM L5 Plug-In Conversion Module (PCM) provided by A123 Systems. The addition of the Hymotion L5 PCM battery provides the Prius with up to 30 - 40 miles of electrically assisted driving on a single charge from the utility grid. During those first 30 - 40 miles, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by up to 66 percent and fuel economy of up to 100 mpg or greater can be achieved. When the L5 PCM battery is depleted, the Prius automatically reverts to standard HEV operation, so driving range need not be a concern.

(Source: Zipcar)