The first electric car-sharing service in Sicily was inaugurated yesterday at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo. Palermo residents can now count on twenty-four Renault Zoe electric cars and 16 new charging points straightaway.
After the recent case in the Catania area, where a private company decided to equip its sales force with 100 electric cars and, at the same time, to install 50 public charging points in shopping centres, it is now Palermo's turn to make its contribution to sustainable mobility in the South. Thus, to the already existing shared mobility platform (CNG cars, electric cars, bikes, scooters and vans), 24 electric cars and 16 new Enel charging stations are now being added.
"The launch of electric car sharing," declared Leoluca Orlando, mayor of Palermo, "completes the plan for energy sustainability and liveability in Palermo that is already under way, bringing together the theme of sustainable mobility with that of promoting alternative energy sources."
Admittedly, Palermo, with its historic centre made up of a labyrinth of streets and alleyways, is far from the easiest city for individual mobility. For this reason, the debut of electric car sharing — which sits alongside CNG car sharing and bike sharing (a plan is also in the works to build over 100 kilometres of cycle lanes) — offers Palermo residents a concrete alternative to the private car.
Here's how it works. Twenty-four is the number of electric cars (Renault Zoe) available for car sharing. Where can you find them? In five car parks around the city: piazza Massimo, piazzale Ungheria, via Malta, piazza Ignazio Florio and viale della Libertà. By the end of the year, the car parks at the Notarbartolo station, the port and piazza Europa will also be added. Each car offers a range of approximately 100–150 km, while in some cases just one hour may be enough to recharge at a charging point.
To access the new service, users must register and use the same smart card already provided for the "traditional" car sharing to book the cars. There are, however, some usage restrictions: cars can be booked via the app and online, but pick-up and drop-off must take place at the same car park without exception. Furthermore, when making a booking, users are required to enter the estimated mileage they intend to cover, so that the system — having detected the battery charge level and therefore the remaining range — can either approve or decline the booking request.
How much does it cost to hire an electric car in Palermo? Hourly rates range from €0.75 to €2 per hour depending on the time of day and the kilometres travelled, while special daily rates range from €20 for a single day to €115 for a full week.