Autolib'

{{Short description|French carsharing company}}

{{update|date=December 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Autolib'

| logo = frameless

| caption =

| type = Public

| genre =

| fate =

| predecessor =

| successor =

| foundation = {{Start date|df=yes|2011|12}} (Paris)
{{Start date|df=yes|2013|10}} (Lyon)
{{Start date|df=yes|2014|01}} (Bordeaux)

| founder =

| defunct = {{End date|df=yes|2018|07|31}}

| location_city = Paris

| location_country = France

| location =

| locations =

| area_served = Paris, Bordeaux and Lyon

| key_people =

| industry = Car rental

| products =

| services = Carsharing

| revenue =

| operating_income =

| net_income =

| aum =

| assets =

| equity =

| owner =

| num_employees =

| parent = Bolloré

| divisions =

| subsid =

| homepage = {{URL|autolib.eu}}
{{URL|autolibmetropole.fr}}

}}

Autolib' was an electric car sharing service which was inaugurated in Paris, France, in December 2011. It closed on 31 July 2018.{{Cite web |url=https://www.autolib.eu/ |title=Autopartage à Paris et en Île-de-France – 100% électrique | Autolib |access-date=22 January 2012 |archive-date=5 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105003633/https://www.autolib.eu/ |url-status=dead }} It was operated by the Bolloré industry and complemented the city's bike sharing system, Velib', which was set up in 2007. The Autolib' service maintained a fleet of all-electric Bolloré Bluecars for public use on a paid subscription basis, employing a citywide network of parking and charging stations.{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/node/21528681?frsc=dg|title=All charged up for sharing|newspaper=The Economist|date=10 September 2011|access-date=11 September 2011}}[https://archive.today/20120731163651/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gRjBY0fNQ1aBoJrGt9N1pYfekzwQ?docId=CNG.b55c97688ff9e8fbe0e4915e511e1a6e.211 "Autolib' in the Paris region: dissenting voices before the official launch"]. AFP via Google. 20 November 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2013. {{As of|2016|07|03}}, 3,980 Bluecars had been registered for the service and had more than 126,900 registered subscribers;{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/jul/09/electric-boris-car-source-london-how-work-paris-autolib|title=Electric 'Boris cars' are coming to London – how do they work in Paris?|work=The Guardian|date=9 July 2014|access-date=23 February 2015}} Autolib' furthermore offered 1,084 electric car stations in Paris agglomeration with 5,935 charging points.{{cite web|url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8MFxB5YvOOkd3VYZm54cDJJS0U/view?usp=drive_web|title=Tableau de bord du 3 juillet 2016|work=Autolib' Métropole|date=3 July 2016|access-date=24 July 2016}}.

Since beginning operations in Paris, Autolib' expanded its business to the cities of Lyon and Bordeaux.{{cite web|url=http://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/automobile/0203232487832-bollore-inaugure-ses-bluecub-a-bordeaux-642008.php#|title=Bolloré inaugure ses Bluecub à Bordeaux|publisher=LesEchos.fr|date=10 January 2014|access-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224074030/http://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/automobile/0203232487832-bollore-inaugure-ses-bluecub-a-bordeaux-642008.php|archive-date=24 February 2015|url-status=dead}} Bolloré also signed deals to begin operating offshoots of Autolib' in London and Indianapolis in 2015,{{cite web|url=http://green.autoblog.com/2013/06/13/french-car-sharing-service-autolib-will-make-us-debut-in-indiana/|title=French car-sharing service Autolib will make US debut in Indianapolis|publisher=AOL AutoBlog Green|date=13 June 2013|access-date=28 June 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.autoblog.com/2014/05/21/bluecar-car-sharing-affiliate-will-debut-in-indianapolis-early-n/|title=BlueCar car-sharing affiliate will debut in Indianapolis early next year|publisher=AOL AutoBlog|date=21 May 2014|access-date=17 February 2015}} Turin in 2016 and Singapore in 2017.

History

The Autolib' system was a follow-up to Paris' successful Velib' bike sharing system, which began operations in 2007. The system's electric cars were supplied by the Bolloré industrial group, as the result of a collaboration with the Italian automotive firm Pininfarina.{{cite web|url=http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/move-over-velib-autolib-is-on-its-way-17274|title=Move over Velib, Autolib is on its way|author=Mark Appleton|publisher=Bike Radar|date=30 June 2008|access-date=21 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214051903/http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/move-over-velib-autolib-is-on-its-way-17274/|archive-date=14 February 2012|url-status=dead}} There were also plans to integrate payment for the bicycle and car hire services with the ticketing systems for traditional modes of public transport.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/boris-jumps-on-board-frances-hire-an-electric-car-scheme-1635137.html |work=The Independent | location=London | title=Boris jumps on board France's 'hire an electric car' scheme | first=Michael |last=McCarthy | date=2 March 2009 | access-date=27 May 2010 }} In May 2012, Vincent Bolloré, the head of the Bolloré group, stated that he expected Autolib' to become profitable by 2018,{{cite web|url=http://www.michelinchallengebibendum.com/en/NEWS-AND-PUBLICATIONS/News-and-publications/Bollore-s-BlueCar-could-break-even-by-2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128163752/http://www.michelinchallengebibendum.com/en/NEWS-AND-PUBLICATIONS/News-and-publications/Bollore-s-BlueCar-could-break-even-by-2018|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 January 2013|title=Bolloré's BlueCar could break even by 2018|publisher=Challenge Bibendum|date=31 May 2012|access-date=5 June 2013}} but the service ended on 31 July 2018 and was replaced on 2 December 2018 by a municipal service to manage the 1000 electrical charging stations in Paris and the City of Paris concluded agreements with several carsharing societies: three freefloating operators and four additional ones participating to the new service Mobilib'.{{cite web|language=fr-FR |publisher=City of Paris |title=Véhicules partagés |url=https://www.paris.fr/pages/vehicules-partages-4541 |date=25 May 2020 |access-date=26 June 2020}}

File:Paris Autolib 06 2012 Bluecar 2905.JPG

Construction of the Autolib' stations began in mid-2011, and 66 of the Bolloré Bluecars were deployed for a two-month preliminary trial period between October and December 2011.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/business/global/paris-tests-short-term-rentals-of-electric-cars.html?_r=1&src=recg|title=Paris Tests Short-Term Rentals of Electric Cars |author=David Jolly |work=The New York Times|date=3 October 2011|access-date=5 October 2011 }} The system entered service on 5 December 2011, with an initial fleet of 250 Bluecars and 250 Autolib' rental stations serving the city of Paris and 18 surrounding communities (96 in 2016), grouped into the syndicate of associated collectivities "Autolib' Métropole".{{cite web|url=http://www.autolibmetropole.fr/autolib-metropole/qui-sommes-nous/|title=Autolib' Métropole, Qui sommes-nous ?|work=Autolib' Métropole|access-date=24 July 2016}}.

At its inception, car availability was a problematic issue, as more Parisians than expected subscribed to the service. Moreover, by early January 2012, up to 40 of the 250 cars in the initial fleet had been temporarily withdrawn from service to repair vandalism or malfunctions.{{cite news|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2012/01/02/01016-20120102ARTFIG00265-autolib-deja-victime-de-pannes-et-de-vandalisme.php|title=Autolib' déjà victime de pannes et de vandalisme|trans-title=Autolib' already suffering breakdowns and vandalism|language=fr|work=Le Figaro|date=2 January 2012|access-date=21 January 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/13/parisian-autolib-car-sharing-service-suffers-setbacks-sells-6-0/|title=Parisian Autolib car sharing service suffers setbacks, sells 6,000 subscriptions |author=Domenick Yoney|publisher=Autoblog Green|date=13 January 2012|access-date=21 January 2012}}

By July 2012, 650 parking and charging stations had been deployed around Paris and the 46 communes participating in the service, and by February 2013 there were 4,000 charging points. The program's user base grew from 6,000 subscribers at the end of December 2011 to 27,000 in July 2012, and reached 37,000 by early October 2012, of which 13,000 had an annual subscription.{{cite news|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/transports/autolib/bollore-lance-la-bluecar-en-region-parisienne-05-10-2012-2207469.php|title=Bolloré lance la "BlueCar" en région parisienne|language=fr|trans-title=Bolloré launches "BlueCar" in the Paris region|author=AFC and Le Parisien|work=Le Parisien|date=5 October 2012|access-date=12 October 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.francesoir.fr/pratique/transport/autolib-plus-6000-abonnes-en-deux-semaines-166505.html|title=Autolib' : Plus de 6.000 abonnés en deux semaines|trans-title=Autolib' : More than 6,000 subscribers in two weeks|language=fr|work=France Soir|date=2 January 2012|access-date=21 January 2012|archive-date=15 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115134646/http://www.francesoir.fr/pratique/transport/autolib-plus-6000-abonnes-en-deux-semaines-166505.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://m.lesechos.fr/transports/paris-veut-eviter-le-changement-de-nom-d-autolib-0202185513768.htm|title=Paris veut éviter le changement de nom d'Autolib'|language=fr|trans-title=Paris wants to avoid Autolib name change |author=Marion Kindermans |work=Les Échos (France) |date=23 July 2012|access-date=30 July 2012}}

File:Autolib' rental station Paris 02.jpg

During 2012, sales of electric cars in France were led by the Bolloré Bluecar deployed for Autolib', with 1,543 units registered, representing 28% of total all-electric cars registered in the country that year.{{cite web|url=http://www.avem.fr/actualite-voitures-electriques-le-bilan-des-immatriculations-2012-en-france-3770.html|title= Voitures électriques – Le bilan des immatriculations 2012 en France|language=fr|trans-title=Electric Cars – The balance of registrations in France 2012|author=Michaël Torregrossa|publisher= Association pour l'Avenir du Véhicule Electrique Méditerranéen (AVEM)|date=19 January 2013|access-date=16 March 2013}} Over 2,000 Bolloré Bluecars had been registered for Autolib' by September 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.avem.fr/actualite-paris-autolib-passe-le-seuil-des-3-millions-de-locations-4493.html|title=Paris – Autolib' passe le seuil des 3 millions de locations|trans-title=Paris – Autolib' passes the threshold of 3 million rentals|author=Michaël Torregrossa|publisher=Association pour l'Avenir du Véhicule Electrique Méditerranéen (AVEM)|date=19 October 2013|access-date=21 October 2013|language=fr}}{{cite news|url=http://veja.abril.com.br/noticia/ciencia/a-revolucao-do-autolib-em-paris|title=A revolução do Autolib' em Paris|author=Fernando Valeika de Barros|work=Veja|date=10 December 2011|access-date=17 December 2011|language=pt}} By late September 2012, Autolib's fleet reached the milestone of 500,000 rentals since its launch,{{cite web|url=http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1079516_bollore-bluecar-sharing-pariss-most-popular-electric-car|title=Bollore Bluecar: Sharing Paris's Most Popular Electric Car |author=John Voelcker |publisher=Green Car Reports|date=2 October 2012|access-date=12 October 2012}} and its vehicles had been driven a cumulative total of {{convert|15000000|km|mi|abbr=on}} by February 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2013/02/21/20005-20130221ARTFIG00507-la-bluecar-sera-vendue-12000-euros.php|title=La Bluecar sera vendue 12.000 euros|language=fr|trans-title=The Bluecar will be sold for €12,000|author=AFP/AP/Reuters|work=Le Figaro|date=21 February 2013|access-date=16 March 2013}} By mid-October 2013, the service had provided over 3 million rentals, with an average of 10,000 rentals per day. By July 2014, Autolib' had 2,500 operational vehicles and over 150,000 subscribers, and its cars had covered a cumulative mileage of over {{convert|30000000|km|mi|abbr=on}} since the service's introduction. In July 2018 the service ceased to operate. Some cars that were part of the fleet are parked in Loir-et-Cher, near Romorantin.{{Cite web|date=2021-05-12|title=Il cimitero delle auto elettriche in car sharing di Parigi|url=https://www.quotidianomotori.com/automobili/automobili-elettriche/auto-elettriche-car-sharing/|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Quotidiano Motori|language=it-IT}}

=Name lawsuit=

In December 2009, the car-rental company Europcar brought the City of Paris to court, arguing that the Autolib' name was a plagiarism and unfair competition by the city. Europcar is the trademark owner of the rental car subscription service "Autoliberté", which has been in operation since 2001.{{cite news|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2009/12/09/01011-20091209FILWWW00373-autolib-europcar-attaque-la-ville-de-paris.php|language=fr|title=Autolib: Europcar attaque la Ville de Paris|trans-title=Autolib: Europcar attack the City of Paris|work=Le Figaro|date=9 December 2009|access-date=21 July 2012}} The case was dismissed in March 2011 by the High Court of Paris, and Europcar decided to appeal.{{cite news|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-eco/2011/04/13/97002-20110413FILWWW00402-autolib-europcar-fait-appel.php |title= Autolib': Europcar fait appel |language=fr |trans-title=Autolib: Europcar files appeal|work=Le Figaro|date=13 April 2011|access-date=21 July 2012}} On 30 June 2012, the Paris Court of Appeal set aside the judgment of the High Court, and ruled that within a month Autolib' had to change its name because it breached trademark laws. The ruling implied that the name had to be changed on all 1,800 Autolib' cars, docking stations and subscriber cards, and also required that all of the business's advertising to be rewritten.{{cite news|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20120702-france-french-court-orders-autolib-car-share-scheme-change-name-bluecar-electric-green-transport|title=Court orders Paris car-share scheme Autolib' to change name|publisher=France 24|date=3 July 2012|access-date=21 July 2012}}

After the ruling, the City of Paris and Europcar began negotiating an agreement to solve the brand name conflict.{{cite web|url=http://www.lepoint.fr/auto-addict/actualites/la-ville-de-paris-et-europcar-negocient-sur-le-nom-de-la-marque-autolib-02-08-2012-1492194_683.php|title=La Ville de Paris et Europcar négocient sur le nom de la marque Autolib'|language=fr|trans-title=The City of Paris and Europcar are negotiating the name of the Autolib' brand|author=AFP|publisher=Auto Addict|date=2 August 2012|access-date=15 August 2012}} In November 2012, an agreement was reached to keep the Autolib' brand name. Europcar agreed to waive the enforcement of the court decision on the condition that the City of Paris would be the owner of the Autolib' brand, and in exchange for free advertising for Europcar's Autoliberté service. The agreement was signed for three years.{{cite news|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/transports/autolib/paris-autolib-pourra-conserver-son-nom-28-11-2012-2362777.php|title=Paris : Autolib' pourra conserver son nom|language=fr|trans-title=Paris: Autolib' will retain its name|work=Le Parisien|date=28 November 2012|access-date=20 December 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.autorentalnews.com/Channel/Legislative/News/Story/2012/12/Europcar-Autolib-Paris-Reach-Agreement-on-Autolib-Brand.aspx#.UNSqO12tr0E.email|title=Europcar, Autolib, Paris Reach Agreement on Autolib Brand|publisher=Auto Rental News|date=6 December 2012|access-date=21 December 2012}}

=Fire incidents=

On 14 October 2013, a Bluecar was destroyed by fire while charging at an Autolib' kiosk in Paris; the fire then spread to a second Bluecar.{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.fr/20131014/in-images-two-autolib-cars-go-up-in-smoke-in-paris|title=Paris Autolib' electric cars go up in smoke|publisher=TheLocal.fr|date=14 October 2013|access-date=11 February 2014}} A police investigation was subsequently conducted to ascertain the cause of the fire. According to Bolloré, the real-time telemetric monitoring system did not register a thermal runaway problem with the car's battery when the fire started. The company attributed the origin of the fire to an external cause, probably vandalism. Bolloré reported that a total of 25 Autolib' Bluecars have burnt out since its inception, with most of the incidents certified as attributed to vandals.{{cite news|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2013/10/14/01016-20131014ARTFIG00412-incendies-d-autolib-des-actes-de-malveillance.php|title=Incendies d'Autolib': des actes de malveillance|language=fr|trans-title=Autolib' Fire: Vandalism act|author=Jean-Marc Leclerc|work=Le Figaro|date=14 October 2013|access-date=17 October 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.plugincars.com/two-evs-parisian-autolib-car-sharing-service-burned-down-128577.html|title=Two Autolib Electric Cars Burn Down in Paris|author=Laurent J. Masson|publisher=PluginCars.com|date=16 October 2013|access-date=3 November 2013}}

Autolib' beyond Paris

In early 2013, the Bolloré Group announced plans to launch a similar car-sharing service in Lyon and Bordeaux, but under a different brand name and with no cost to the cities. Bolloré's proposal was to fund the entire infrastructure, install and provide the vehicles, and cover the costs of maintenance and repairs. Bolloré furthermore expressed interest in launching a car-sharing service in Asia.{{cite web|url=http://droit-finances.commentcamarche.net/news/109908-apres-paris-et-lyon-bollore-veut-lancer-autolib-a-bordeaux |title=Après Paris et Lyon, Bolloré veut lancer Autolib' à Bordeaux |language=fr |trans-title=After Paris and Lyon, Bolloré wants to launch Autolib' in Bordeaux |author=Relax News |publisher=Droid Finances |date=26 February 2013 |access-date=16 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222155253/http://droit-finances.commentcamarche.net/news/109908-apres-paris-et-lyon-bollore-veut-lancer-autolib-a-bordeaux |archive-date=22 February 2014}} In October 2013, proposals were advanced for Scootlib', an electric scooter-sharing system intended to complement Velib' and Autolib'.{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.fr/20131017/after-velib-and-autolib-is-paris-set-for-scootlib|title=After Velib' and Autolib' is Paris set for Scootlib'?|publisher=TheLocal.fr|date=17 October 2013|access-date=11 February 2014}}

Bolloré's Lyon service, dubbed BlueLy, began in October 2013 with an initial fleet of 130 vehicles and 51 parking and charging stations.{{cite web|url=https://www.blue-solutions.com/en/applications/mobilite/autopartage/bluecarsharing/bluely/|title=BlueLy|publisher=Blue Solutions|date=2014|access-date=24 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224073723/https://www.blue-solutions.com/en/applications/mobilite/autopartage/bluecarsharing/bluely/|archive-date=24 February 2015|url-status=dead}} Its Bordeaux service, BlueCub, began operating in January 2014 with an initial fleet of 90 vehicles, 40 parking stations and 180 charging stations.

In June 2013, Autolib' formed an agreement with the American city of Indianapolis, Indiana, to develop an electric car-sharing service there; the service, named BlueIndy, opened to the public in September 2015. A similar service based in London was announced in 2014, and will be inaugurated in March 2015, utilising London's existing network of electric car charging points. The London system is intended to encompass 3,000 electric cars by 2018.

In June 2016, Bolloré signed an agreement with Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Economic Development Board to develop an electric car-sharing programme, known as BlueSG.{{cite web|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-s-first-electric-car-sharing-programme-to-launch-in-9254156|title=Singapore's first electric car-sharing programme to launch in December|publisher=Channel News Asia|date=27 September 2017|access-date=18 June 2018|archive-date=17 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617165502/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-s-first-electric-car-sharing-programme-to-launch-in-9254156|url-status=dead}} Construction of the charging stations began at the end of September, 2017 and in December, 2017, the service was officially opened to the public with 30 charging stations and 80 cars located throughout the country, with plans to expand the service to offer 2,000 charging points in 500 charging locations, with 400 charging points open for public use and 1,000 electric cars deployed by 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/more-than-5000-bluesg-electric-car-rentals-in-first-3-weeks-of-service|title=More than 5,000 BlueSG electric car rentals in first 3 weeks of service|work=The Straits Times|date=3 January 2018|access-date=18 June 2018}}

In October 2016, in Turin, Italy, the service BlueTorino was activated. Now counting 130 vehicles and 54 charging stations, it's expected by the completion of the project a fleet of 330 vehicles and 80 charging stations around the city.{{cite web|url=https://www.bluetorino.eu|title=BlueTorino official website|access-date=8 July 2022|archive-date=6 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206131621/https://www.bluetorino.eu/|url-status=dead}}

Operation

File:Autolib' Station, Paris, Boulevard Diderot 01.jpg

The Autolib' Bluecar was available to anyone aged 18 or older with a valid French driving license, or a valid foreign license plus the international driving license, who took out a paid subscription. Users could choose between 2 rental packages, with 30-minute fees varying from {{euro|6}} to {{euro|9}} depending on the rental plan. An available car could be collected for use from any rental station and returned to any other rental station. Each car had on-board GPS capabilities and could be tracked by the system's operations center.

In addition to the subscription fees, Autolib' charged a variable rate for each half an hour of use, but billing for each rental was calculated on a pro rata basis, which took into account the actual duration of use rounded up to the nearest minute (except for the first 20 minutes, for which there is a minimum charge). The table below summarizes the subscription types that were available, the subscription fees and the corresponding 30-minute rates:

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"

|+Autolib' service fees and use rates{{cite web|url=https://www.autolib.eu/subscribe/|title=Choose your subscription|publisher=Autolib'|access-date=21 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106223703/https://www.autolib.eu/subscribe/|archive-date=6 January 2012|url-status=dead}}

align="center"

! rowspan="2" style="background:#abcdef;"| Plan

! rowspan="2" style="background:#abcdef;"| Membership

! rowspan="2" style="background:#abcdef;"| Subscription
fees

! rowspan="2" style="background:#abcdef;"|Car

reservation

! rowspan="2" style="background:#abcdef;" | Rates per each 30 min interval

! colspan="3" style="background:#abcdef;"| Maximum rates in case of accident

style="background:#abcdef;"| First
accident

! style="background:#abcdef;"| Second
accident

! style="background:#abcdef;"| Third
accident
(max)

align="center"

| align="left"|1 year

|1 year

|{{euro|120}} per year
({{euro|10}} per month)

|{{Euro|0}}

|{{euro|6}}

{{euro|200}}{{euro|475}}{{euro|750}}
align="center"

| align="left" |Ready to Go

|1 year

| {{euro|0}} per year
({{euro|0}} per month)

|{{Euro|1}}

|{{euro|9}}

{{euro|200}}{{euro|475}}{{euro|750}}

Other services

File:BMW i3 charging on Autolib' station in Paris trimmed.jpg charging at an Autolib' station in Paris.]]

File:Atos - Zero - Carbon - Car - Profile.jpg corporate carsharing service in Bezons, France, in 2012.]]

=Private EV charging service=

In addition to charging its own vehicles, the Autolib' service offered charging services for private owners of electric cars and motorcycles.{{cite web|url=http://www.evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=30587 |title=E-Cycles Allowed Use of Autolib Charge Stations in Paris |publisher=EVWorld.com |date=24 June 2013 |access-date=28 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926151022/http://evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=30587 |archive-date=26 September 2013}} Customers had to sign up for the "recharge" fee option. The subscription cost for cars and motorcycles was {{euro|15}} per year only the first year. Recharge customers had designated parking spaces at Autolib' stations, marked with a blue square. Each hour cost {{euro|1}} for cars and motorcycles. Use of the charging infrastructure for private cars was limited to two times per day per subscriber.{{cite web|url=https://www.autolib.eu/en/how-does-it-work/service/|title=Autolib', How it works?|publisher=Autolib'|access-date=10 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222015345/https://www.autolib.eu/en/how-does-it-work/service/|archive-date=22 February 2014|url-status=dead}}

In early 2014, Renault offered free Autolib' charging subscriptions to owners of Renault EVs.{{cite web|url=http://insideevs.com/free-annual-autolib-subscriptions-for-all-renault-ev-owners-through-to-february-28-2014/|title=Free Annual Autolib Charging Subscriptions For All Renault EV Owners Through February 28, 2014|publisher=Inside EVs|date=January 2014|access-date=17 February 2014}} Autolib' charging stations were compatible with the following plug-in electric vehicles: BMW i3, Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Opel Ampera, Renault Fluence Z.E., Renault Kangoo Z.E., Renault Twizy, Renault Zoe, Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid and all Smart ED, Peugeot iOn and Citroen C-Zero manufactured before May 2013.{{cite web|url=https://autolib.eu/en/offers-and-rates/individuals-charging-rates/|title=Our Rates for Individuals|author=Autolib'|publisher=Autolib'|access-date=9 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812203726/https://autolib.eu/en/offers-and-rates/individuals-charging-rates/|archive-date=12 August 2014|url-status=dead}}

=Bluecar leasing and sales program=

Bolloré began leasing the Bluecar to individual and corporate customers in October 2012 at a price of {{euro|500}} ({{USD|648}}) per month. The pricing included insurance, parking and charging at Autolib' stations. According to Bolloré, each existing station already provided one recharging space for private electric cars outside the Autolib' system. The Bluecar retail version had a blue exterior color, unlike the Autolib' version's silver unpainted aluminum exterior.{{cite web|url=http://www.autonews.fr/dossiers/votre-quotidien/90768-bollore-blucear-paris-location|title=Louez une Bluecarpour 500 € par mois|language=fr|trans-title=Lease a Bluecar for €500 per month|author=Laurent Lepsch|publisher=Auto News|date=8 October 2012|access-date=12 October 2012}} In February 2013 Bolleré announced the start of retail sales of the Bluecar, and for an optional monthly fee of {{euro|15}}, owners could have access to the Autolib' network of charging stations around Paris.{{cite web|url=http://www.avem.fr/actualite-voiture-electrique-la-bluecar-de-bollore-disponible-pour-12-000-3876.html|title=Voiture électrique – La Bluecar de Bolloré disponible pour 12.000 €|language=fr|trans-title=Electric Cars – Bolloré Bluecar available for €12,000 |author=Michaël Torregrossa|publisher=Association pour l'Avenir du Véhicule Electrique Méditerranéen (AVEM) |date=21 February 2013|access-date=16 March 2013}}

=Corporate carsharing=

Atos and the Bolloré Group launched the MyCar corporate car sharing pilot program in December 2012. The service was dedicated to Atos employees for their business travel needs at the company's headquarters in the French town of Bezons. A fleet of ten Atos-branded Bolloré Bluecars were initially deployed. In addition to charging vehicles at the solar-powered Bezons site, MyCar users could also access the Autolib' network of charging stations in Paris and its surrounding area.{{cite web|url=http://www.avem.fr/news?id=3697|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130213172139/http://www.avem.fr/news?id=3697|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 February 2013|title=MyCar – L'Autolib' professionnel de Bolloré déployé chez Atos|language=fr|trans-title=MyCar – The Autolib' cars of Bolloré deployed at Atos|author=Michaël Torregrossa|publisher=Association pour l'Avenir du Véhicule Electrique Méditerranéen (AVEM)|date=7 December 2012|access-date=21 December 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/06/idUS158566+06-Dec-2012+HUG20121206|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210223411/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/06/idUS158566+06-Dec-2012+HUG20121206|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 December 2012|title=Atos and Bolloré Group launch first 100% electric corporate car fleet|author=Atos Press Release|publisher=Reuters|date=6 December 2012|access-date=21 December 2012}}

In January 2013, a similar leasing deal was reached with Crédit Agricole, the largest retail banking group in France. Five Bluecars were leased for 20 months for business travel use by the bank's employees.{{cite web|url=http://www.france-mobilite-electrique.org/quand-la-bluecar-seduit-le-credit-agricole,4171.html?lang=fr|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415004435/http://www.france-mobilite-electrique.org/quand-la-bluecar-seduit-le-credit-agricole,4171.html?lang=fr|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 April 2013|title=Quand La Bluecar Séduit Le Crédit Agricole du Finistère|language=fr|trans-title=When the Bluecar Seduced the Crédit Agricole du Finistère|author=Laurent Meillaud|publisher=Automobile Propre|date=18 January 2013|access-date=9 February 2013}}

See also

References

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