The New Zipcar Application for the Iphone: Find a Zipcar Wherever You Are: Energy Products Articles: Eco20/20

The New Zipcar Application for the Iphone: Find a Zipcar Wherever You Are

Zipcar is the largest car sharing service in the world with locations in over forty nine US cities. In addition, there are locations in Vancouver, Toronto and London. For those who are unfamiliar with the concept: a Zipcar car sharing program allows you to rent a car for a few hours at a time, every day if you need it.

In addition, you can arrange to share a zip car after it has been rented. Whether you are using Zipcar to go back and forth to work or just for a trip that is beyond your walking or biking capabilities, it is one way to reduce your carbon footprint.

In connection with this car sharing service, the Apple iPhone is offering an app that allows you to find the nearest Zipcar location, rent a car at that location, pay for it from the phone and then helps you to get there. GPS navigation and Google maps gives you directions right to your phone so that you can find the car without wasting time or energy in doing so. Once you arrive, the app continues to help you by honking the car's horn so that you can find it in a crowded parking lot.

Car sharing services are expected to continue to rise as more people become more eco conscious but are unable or unwilling to commit to either a hybrid or electric car. Using car sharing services for longer trips can be the next best thing that they can do. Zip car is the biggest of the kind right now, but surely there will be competition as more and more people become aware of and interested in this type of service.

It is estimated that about twenty five percent of the Zipcar user's also are Apple Iphone user's as well. The company is also lowering prices on the phone and adding additional car friendly apps including additional GPS navigation and hands free dialing. There are over sixty five thousand apps for the Iphone, many of them are geared toward those who have environmental concerns. Using the zip car service is a logical step in the right direction, using the Apple Iphone to do so is just a hip way to take that step.