Vancouver Housing Authority Selects Flexcar for Staff Mobility Needs; Hybrid Car Will Be Available for Public Use During Non-Business Hours

VANCOUVER, Wash.--Aug. 2, 20035, 2003--Flexcar, the nation's largest car-sharing company, the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Housing Authority (VHA) have partnered to increase mobility options for VHA staff as well as residents in Vancouver's Uptown neighborhood. Flexcar has placed a vehicle at VHA headquarters (near 24th and Main Streets) that is available for use by VHA staff during business hours and other Flexcar members the remainder of the day.

As part of a sustainable transportation incentive package, the City's GreenFleet program provides the VHA staff with a hybrid Toyota Prius, access to on-demand C-TRAN bus tickets and a fleet bicycle.

"By partnering with Flexcar and GreenFleet we were able to provide additional community benefit," said Alice Porter, VHA Director of Housing Management. "Employees who need a car occasionally will now have that option, while carpooling or taking public transportation to work, and the vehicle can be used by area residents as an alternative to owning and maintaining a car."

The goal of the City of Vancouver's GreenFleet program is to provide affordable and environmentally friendly transportation options for Vancouver's citizens and employers. As part of the City's efforts, GreenFleet partnered with Flexcar in the Vancouver market in 2001 to launch a fleet of super ultra-low emission vehicles, so that more drivers could use this technology. An agency's adoption of green vehicle technology pays off in many ways, with VHA's staff use of a hybrid sedan they will save 4.2 tons of greenhouse gas emissions (57% less) and $776 dollars in gasoline (62% less) during one year of driving.

"What most drivers do not understand is that their annual tail pipe emissions typically weigh more than four times their car's actual weight," said Todd Boulanger, manager of the City's GreenFleet program. "For example, VHA's old pool car emitted over 7.4 tons for an average year, but the car only weights 1.6 tons."

Flexcar's Vancouver fleet is part of a nationwide service for more than 16,000 members in five major metro areas, including Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Diego and Washington, D.C. Flexcar places fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly cars, trucks and minivans across a region. Flexcar members reserve the vehicles for hourly use with Flexcar covering the cost of the car, gas, parking, insurance, and maintenance. Paying by the hour, members can enjoy the freedom of car ownership without the hassles and costs.

More information about the mobility benefits offered in Vancouver is available at http://www.flexcar.com/portland/specials_vancouver.asp?rc=0

The Vancouver Housing Authority provides safe, decent, affordable homes for more than 3,200 elderly, disabled, and family households through federally subsidized housing and private market rental assistance. The VHA also owns over 1,600 units of lasting, high-quality workforce housing, which provides net revenue and a long-term investment that reduces the VHA's dependence on federal funding sources. For more information visit www.vhausa.com.

The City of Vancouver's GreenFleet program is one of 10 programs funded nationally in 2001 by the EPA through the Clean Air Transportation Community grants program - the goals of which are to spur local innovations to lower vehicle emissions and vehicle miles traveled.

Flexcar, headquartered in Seattle, now operates car-sharing programs for more than 16,000 members in more than a dozen cities and counties in 5 states and the District of Columbia. With flexible pricing plans, members can reserve and drive any of these cars whenever and wherever they need to, without filling out complicated paperwork, paying for insurance, gas or maintenance. Flexcar Business Memberships enable companies to augment or replace their fleet with Flexcar vehicles. Flexcar's modern fleet includes sedans, gas-electric hybrids, electric cars and specialty vehicles including pickups and convertibles. Flexcar has established strategic partnerships with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), King County (Wash.) Metro Transit, Parsons Transportation Group, American Honda Motor Company, Inc. and Bristol Bay Native Corporation.

Editor's Note: Correct spelling and punctuation is "Flexcar"; not FlexCar, Flex Car or Flexicar.