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In the Bay Area, Renting Electric BMWs by the Half Hour

The New York Times -- PALO ALTO, Calif. — A BMW 1 Series costs more than $30,000. But for the price of a few gallons of gas, Bay Area residents can zip around in a purely electric version of the compact coupe using DriveNow, a electric-car-sharing service from the German automaker.

BMW had previously made its ActiveE, based on the 1 Series, available to only 700 drivers nationwide under a two-year lease. But for the automaker’s new DriveNow service, 70 ActiveE vehicles have been scattered among eight stations in San Francisco and Palo Alto for a pay-as-you-go rental program. And unlike many car-share services, which typically require round trips, DriveNow allows members to drop a car off at any DriveNow station.

BMW has been operating a similar program in Germany since June 2011 with the 1 Series....

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Submitted Aug 28, 2012 By: StanleyCup

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Ebaz Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:3,256 Points:717,260 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 6:12:56 PM Ignore Ebaz Report Abuse Chaching
SUV2009 Champion Author Orlando Posts:4,423 Points:1,145,165 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 3:14:00 PM Ignore SUV2009 Report Abuse ok
GatorGuy Champion Author Columbia Posts:2,238 Points:1,209,195 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 2:15:40 PM Ignore GatorGuy Report Abuse Interesting...probably the only way I'd use an electric car. What are the odds this car could make it up Lombard Street?!? [Edited by: GatorGuy at 8/28/2012 4:16:17 PM EST]
JXQW Champion Author Kansas City Posts:2,787 Points:684,925 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 9:20:35 AM Ignore JXQW Report Abuse how long to charge the battery and how far it goes?
Ken2OD Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:9,077 Points:1,972,915 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 9:19:36 AM Ignore Ken2OD Report Abuse Thirty minutes might get you across the BRIDGE but not much farther.
PTBpricer Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,548 Points:207,395 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:53:51 AM Ignore PTBpricer Report Abuse Sounds like it's aimed more toward business use.
LuckyD43 Champion Author Long Island Posts:32,050 Points:2,170,020 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:49:35 AM Ignore LuckyD43 Report Abuse You can't go very far in the Bay Area in 30 minutes, so it doesn't sound like a very good deal to me.
BudsterMO Champion Author Kansas City Posts:3,720 Points:705,130 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:48:32 AM Ignore BudsterMO Report Abuse ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ, OK, bring on the Compressed Natural Gas and or Hydrogen Fuel Cell power.
Old Timer Champion Author Akron Posts:3,747 Points:1,263,990 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:39:08 AM Ignore Old Timer Report Abuse Interesting.
Goatroper Champion Author Dallas Posts:6,609 Points:1,296,410 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:38:23 AM Ignore Goatroper Report Abuse Sounds like an interesting idea
bowler360 Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,980 Points:500,750 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:34:54 AM Ignore bowler360 Report Abuse That's kinda cool. Slip in the credit card and go. Love it. They should do it everywhere.
SolarReplaceGas Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,010 Points:210,170 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:34:49 AM Ignore SolarReplaceGas Report Abuse Sounds more like a novelty service than a full fledged business model, but hey, perhaps BMW will learn enough from this test market to develop a business plan.
zimowski Champion Author San Jose Posts:6,681 Points:1,586,415 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:32:08 AM Ignore zimowski Report Abuse A bit expensive for my tastes...
ibhenry Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,536 Points:457,945 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:32:07 AM Ignore ibhenry Report Abuse $12 first 30 minutes and $.32 a minute...huh...
syreda Sophomore Author Phoenix Posts:244 Points:60,610 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:27:19 AM Ignore syreda Report Abuse ok but honestly what can you get done in 30 minutes??
tco9436 Champion Author Connecticut Posts:1,782 Points:724,225 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:25:18 AM Ignore tco9436 Report Abuse Anyone hear of a bicycle?
truckpdlr Champion Author Tucson Posts:2,959 Points:1,098,045 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:24:36 AM Ignore truckpdlr Report Abuse OK,
unicornpmb Champion Author Buffalo Posts:8,501 Points:1,631,465 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:24:05 AM Ignore unicornpmb Report Abuse Whatever floats your boat.
KarateDude Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:2,490 Points:838,245 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:23:59 AM Ignore KarateDude Report Abuse How much does it cost to rent a Pinto ???
Rick01 Champion Author Utah Posts:9,028 Points:2,364,525 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:23:45 AM Ignore Rick01 Report Abuse The last time I was in the Bay area you could walk around faster than you could drive.
nskmda Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,295 Points:788,505 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:23:37 AM Ignore nskmda Report Abuse good luck
Ram4Sam All-Star Author San Bernardino Posts:889 Points:548,120 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:23:10 AM Ignore Ram4Sam Report Abuse In San Francisco??? who would have guessed!
stonecold5005 All-Star Author Waco Posts:817 Points:20,240 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:22:04 AM Ignore stonecold5005 Report Abuse ok
fulldawg Champion Author Georgia Posts:7,113 Points:951,210 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:21:10 AM Ignore fulldawg Report Abuse This is not believable
DABEE1073 Champion Author San Diego Posts:8,215 Points:1,574,285 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:18:51 AM Ignore DABEE1073 Report Abuse I GUESS IT IS OK IF YOU ARE INTO THAT SORT OF THING.
paulp24 Champion Author Harrisburg Posts:4,552 Points:824,275 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:18:18 AM Ignore paulp24 Report Abuse ok
Hangnail309 Champion Author Manitoba Posts:6,034 Points:1,679,130 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:17:32 AM Ignore Hangnail309 Report Abuse half hours could get expensive, too ...
Catfish93001 Champion Author Ventura Posts:1,200 Points:247,955 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:17:00 AM Ignore Catfish93001 Report Abuse With bay area traffic what it is, can you really get very far in half an hour?
bobzilla11 Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,206 Points:497,225 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:16:51 AM Ignore bobzilla11 Report Abuse its a start
HypermilinJeff Rookie Author Dallas Posts:64 Points:319,885 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:16:46 AM Ignore HypermilinJeff Report Abuse Half hour? Hope rental place not too far away from good shopping etc. Stupid to waste time driving a lot to get someplace.... sounds like something for the 1% to me.
TuanCanCook Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:12,577 Points:659,465 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:14:45 AM Ignore TuanCanCook Report Abuse Northern Californian's like this kind of novelty. Perfect market to test it in...
Kaiyne Champion Author Chicago Posts:2,349 Points:474,665 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:14:38 AM Ignore Kaiyne Report Abuse MORONS!!!!
spiderjay Champion Author Little Rock Posts:4,773 Points:1,282,235 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:14:23 AM Ignore spiderjay Report Abuse dumb but ok
Mariuxus Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,770 Points:1,873,015 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:14:17 AM Ignore Mariuxus Report Abuse ok...it's a good shopping cart...
Sam195 Champion Author San Bernardino Posts:8,100 Points:1,577,025 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:13:36 AM Ignore Sam195 Report Abuse I think I'll pass on that.
pricechecker08 Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,886 Points:1,702,650 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:12:57 AM Ignore pricechecker08 Report Abuse A novelty.
Tekkersmom57 Champion Author Syracuse Posts:1,884 Points:702,165 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:12:54 AM Ignore Tekkersmom57 Report Abuse I think it is very expensive for the amount of time you are given to drive it. I would rather spend my money elsewhere!
windows7isfast Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:2,419 Points:493,200 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:12:46 AM Ignore windows7isfast Report Abuse ok
nauzad Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:1,029 Points:287,330 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:12:40 AM Ignore nauzad Report Abuse ok
essel Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,723 Points:1,046,395 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:12:20 AM Ignore essel Report Abuse dont buy gas today/tomorrow, or buy minimum
H2OBurner Champion Author Utah Posts:1,938 Points:708,935 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:12:12 AM Ignore H2OBurner Report Abuse k
WebGabe Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,374 Points:497,595 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:12:07 AM Ignore WebGabe Report Abuse Hmm. Okay.
REVLAW Champion Author San Antonio Posts:10,445 Points:2,009,195 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:11:39 AM Ignore REVLAW Report Abuse By the half hour could get expensive.
Ron77095 Champion Author Houston Posts:3,070 Points:604,625 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:08:54 AM Ignore Ron77095 Report Abuse Really?
uptherefiners Champion Author Chicago Posts:5,048 Points:1,002,000 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:06:46 AM Ignore uptherefiners Report Abuse um...nah
RetFireLT Champion Author Kentucky Posts:2,660 Points:171,185 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:06:25 AM Ignore RetFireLT Report Abuse Californuts.
BlueVanGroup Champion Author Colorado Posts:7,209 Points:1,529,470 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:05:51 AM Ignore BlueVanGroup Report Abuse "That's odd, I thought this car would have a stereo."
BillHeatherL Champion Author Alberta Posts:7,653 Points:1,926,580 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:05:20 AM Ignore BillHeatherL Report Abuse time will tell if it is a money maker
dlzastera Champion Author Minnesota Posts:4,520 Points:1,025,295 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:05:06 AM Ignore dlzastera Report Abuse What will that cost.
kishoreCA Champion Author Ventura Posts:3,129 Points:394,845 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Aug 28, 2012 8:04:25 AM Ignore kishoreCA Report Abuse may be good for one time just to experience it.