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ZITY

What is ZITY?

ZITY is an electric carsharing company created by Ferrovial and Renault Spain. Their goal is to provide an electric vehicle rental service by the minute, hour, and even day. The company currently has a fleet of 800 cars in Madrid; the vehicles have a capacity of 300 kilometers of real driving range, which lets users get around the city for a long time. 

The vehicles are fully electric, and they have automatic transmission and five seats, as well as a large trunk. In addition, part of the fleet has child seats (Group 1-2-3) for no additional charge.

With ZITY, users can enjoy all the advantages of carsharing: having a private vehicle available without taking on the costs and responsibilities that buying one entails. This mode of transportation responds to the need to create new technologies to improve how cities work. 

When and where did ZITY start operating?

ZITY began operating in Madrid, Spain, in December 2017, with a total of 658 Renault ZOE Z.E 40 electric vehicles and covering an area of 96 km2. It initially only provided service in the M-30 area of Madrid. Today, though, it has a larger scope, having expanded its operation to Ciudad Universitaria, Hortaleza, Mirasierra, Las Tablas, and Ciudad Lineal, to name a few. On May 20, 2020, it began operating in Paris, France, making some 500 electric Renault ZOEs available. 

In 2021, both in Madrid and in Paris, the Dacia Spring model, which has 4 seats and 304 km of driving range, was added to the fleet of cars. 

How does ZITY work?

ZITY works from the mobile app, available on iOS and Android. To use the service, users should:

  1. Download the app. 
  2. Register your information. As of December 31, 2020, initial registration costs €5, and the user must identify themselves with an ID and driver’s license (both current) and provide a credit or debit card.
  3. Reserve the car. Once registered, each time the user wants to reserve a vehicle, details about the closest one, its driving range, battery percentage, characteristics, and conditions will be listed. The car can be opened from the same mobile app without the need for a key.
  4. Finalize the booking. The user must park the car within the ZITY service area, returning the vehicle with a minimum driving range of 10 km. Once out of the car, they have to press “End trip” in the app. In a few seconds, the vehicle will lock, and the trip will be over. 

How much does it cost to rent a ZITY?

The ZITY service has a per-minute cost, which starts counting once the user opens the vehicle and ends when the trip is completed from the mobile app. Rates vary according to the selected modes:

Standard rate: ranges from €0.17 to €0.37 per minute (based on total time).

Flat rates: 

  • Hourly:

2 hours: €23

4 hours: €35

8 hours: €49

  • Per day:

1 day: €69

2 days: €99

3 days: €129. 

Stand-by mode: lets you keep your car reservation while making a stop inside or outside the ZITY zone. The price for this mode ranges from €0.09 to € 0.19 per minute (depending on the total time).

What features do ZITYs have?

  • GPS.
  • Airbags.
  • Air conditioning.
  • Rear-view camera.
  • Radio.
  • Proximity sensor.
  • Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and an Antilock Braking System (ABS). 
  • Phone charger.

What advantages does ZITY offer compared to other carsharing companies?

The main advantage offered by ZITY, compared to other carsharing companies in Spain, is that it has coverage outside the M-30. In addition, stand-by mode even makes it is possible to leave the ZITY area without having to end the reservation.

The size of Renault ZOE cars is also larger compared to the competition: they have 5 seats, while other companies offer 2 to 4 seats. In addition, ZITY has a longer driving range – twice that of other carsharing companies’ vehicles. 

Finally, both the per minute rate and the daily rate are unlimited in terms of mileage. The flat rates are lower than other carsharing companies, too, making ZITY a convenient option.

Fun facts about ZITY

  • Within two years, the company aims to bring its carsharing service to 8 to 10 European countries. The scope will depend on the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. 
  • When a user registers on the app, they have to send a selfie to verify that they’re the holder of the driving license uploaded to the app. 
  • In 2019, ZITY had a turnover of €8.5 million, and it has more than 400,000 users in Madrid and 30,000 registrations in Paris.
  • ZITY was the first carsharing company  to come to the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport. However, due to COVID-19, it’s possible to travel to the airport, but the vehicle must be left in stand-by mode until the user can pick it up.

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