http://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/columnists/suzette-hackney/2015/09/03/hackney-got-rolling-blueindy-rocked/71645646/ Hackney: Once I got rolling, BlueIndy rocked Suzette Hackney September 3, 2015
[image / Kelly Wilkinson/The Star http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/2015/09/03/Indianapolis/B9318702293Z.1_20150903134020_000_GUTBQIM2R.1-0.jpg ] For a day at least, I felt like the most popular person in Indianapolis. It’s amazing what some new electric wheels can do. Taking an inaugural ride around the city Wednesday, the first day BlueIndy, the all-electric, car-share service was available, elicited numerous conversations with strangers, interested stares from fellow drivers, and smiles and waves as I passed other BlueIndy stations around town. The service was not without hiccups on day one, but it’s definitely a cool alternative for those who want to drive to the airport but want to avoid paying parking fees, those who wish to tool around Downtown for an event and not worry about where to park, or for those who need to make a run to the grocery store. I woke up Wednesday morning excited to plot my course. My plan was to reserve a car at a station within walking distance from my house and then hit the road. I went to the BlueIndy website to register for a day pass, which included creating a username, password and pin, and then filling out my name, address, phone, number and email. I then had to upload a photo of my driver’s license – front and back – and another picture of myself, what the website referred to as an identity photo. I used an extra passport photo I had lying around. Online registration took about 20 minutes, and once I confirmed that all my information was accurate, the website said I would receive an email or text message to tell me my documents had been verified and that I was free to go. I then tried to reserve a car at the location near my house, but the website said I was unable to do so. Hmmmm. I waited, realizing that city officials and the Bollore Group, of France, were holding their kickoff festivities at 11 a.m., and the cars probably wouldn’t be available before then. I kept checking my iPhone for an email or text, but neither came. At 1 p.m., I went back to the website and found that there were two enrollment kiosks Downtown, one on North Delaware and one on East Washington. Here’s the ridiculous irony of the experience: I had to get in my car, drive Downtown and find parking to visit a kiosk and figure out why I couldn’t reserve a BlueIndy vehicle. I was met by an ambassador wearing a blue shirt with the BlueIndy logo. I explained my situation and he directed me into the kiosk, where another ambassador – this one in Paris – helped me via video. BlueIndy’s service center isn’t operating here yet, so they’re outsourcing any issues to the experts in France. My French ambassador, Jorge, was very helpful, but the process was annoying, partially because it felt like it was 150 degrees inside the kiosk. But Jorge was able to find that I had registered online. I just had to confirm that my name, address, email and phone on the screen was correct. OK, done. He asked me to create a pin to use with my membership. Wait, I already did that online. And then I had to hold my license against the screen – front and back – so that he could scan it. Hold on, I also did that online at home. He then said I needed to look in the camera and hold still for an identity photo. Me: “Um, Jorge, why did I do all this at home only to have to do it again here?” Jorge: “Well, Miss Hackney, that was to save you some time.” Sigh, how is duplication saving time? Really, Jorge? He was so pleasant and helpful, though, that I could be only a little irritable. I inserted my debit card in a slot similar to a bank’s ATM, my daily membership pass printed, and Jorge explained how to activate and drive the car. Au revoir, Jorge. Finally, I was on the road. The car drove surprisingly smooth and had great pickup. I’m a tall woman – 5’9 – with long legs. I would certainly not want to make a cross-country road trip in a BlueIndy car, but it was comfortable enough for my drive to the airport. If I don’t use the car-sharing service for anything else, I will certainly rent one to get to and from Indianapolis International Airport for flights. My next stop was the Kroger at Broad Ripple. As soon as I parked, shoppers came up to me to see the car. “How do you like it?” “How does it drive?” “Isn’t today the first day you can rent one?” “Can I see inside?” As we discussed the political controversy surrounding the service and I showed it off like it was mine, I realized I was paying for folks to have this BlueIndy experience with me. At a charge of 40 cents per minute, it suddenly became like watching a taxi meter tick away while sitting in stopped traffic. Still, I went inside and did a little grocery shopping. I wanted to use the car on the first day how I envision Indianapolis residents doing so. After shopping, I couldn’t figure out how to open the hatch, so I piled my groceries in the front and back seats. Other malfunctions: there’s supposed to be an exterior sound system that chirps to let folks know you’re approaching – electric cars are silent – but it didn’t work. Also, the radio, when turned at higher volumes, which is not loud at all, makes a ticking noise that’s louder than the music. All software kinks that should be worked out in time, I was told. I ran home to drop off my groceries, and my neighbors came out to see the car. They are a one-car household, with a young daughter. They discussed how helpful the station around the corner would be in a pinch when one of them had the car, and the other needed to pick up their daughter from school. I told them about the daily registration drama and that they should make sure they have this all plotted out before they actually need a car. I can’t imagine what my frustration would have been if I needed the car to catch a flight, for example, and I thought online registration would provide that service immediately. It’s my understanding that at some point – none of the ambassadors could tell me when – that the online experience and app will be fully functional. But they also said that for a one-day pass, they think drivers will always need to go to a kiosk to get a temporary card. That’s a bummer. Overall, the BlueIndy experience is just what I expected it to be – a convenient, green and relatively inexpensive way to make short trips around town. I had the car for nearly three hours, and it cost me $72. Most folks wouldn’t or shouldn’t keep the car that long -- it’s not meant to be a long-term rental option. When I dropped the car off, ambassadors were there to welcome me back and ensure I knew how to end the rental. Those folks won’t always be at rental stations, but it’s not a terribly difficult process. After I plugged the car back in at the station on Delaware, I received a text that thanked me for using BlueIndy, gave me the length of my rental and final cost, reminded me to remove any personal items from the vehicle and lock it. New transportation technology has arrived in Indy, and even on the first day was mostly at its finest. [© indystar.com] ... http://news.yahoo.com/french-electric-car-sharing-launches-us-204151665.html French electric car-sharing service launches in US September 2, 2015 Washington (AFP) - An electric car-sharing service took to the streets of Indianapolis on Wednesday as its French owner hopes to plug into the vast US market. Bollore Group of France said its BlueIndy service is the … ... http://fox59.com/2015/09/01/council-forces-mayor-to-change-citys-electric-car-deal/ Council forces mayor to change city’s electric car deal September 1, 2015 by Russ McQuaid ... The revamped agreement calls for an objective study to determine how much money the city is saving by replacing traditional vehicles with plug-in electric cars, a flexible commitment on acquiring new vehicles based on budget appropriations and the assignment of police vehicles to the Department of Public Safety and not the Department of Public Works ... ... https://www.blue-indy.com/how-does-it-work Once you have your membership card, it's time to get behind the wheel of a Bluecar. ... https://www.blue-indy.com/faq Can I use the BlueIndy charging stations to charge my own EV? Yes! ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolloré_Bluecar#Car_sharing_schemes Bolloré Bluecar EV 4seat 3dr 30kWh-pack r:93mi ts:81mph http://fox59.com/2015/08/30/indianapolis-airport-getting-20-electric-cars-from-blueindy/ Indianapolis airport getting 20 electric cars from BlueIndy August 30, 2015 by Associated Press [image https://tribwxin.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/blueindy.jpeg BlueIndy car ] INDIANAPOLIS (August 30, 2015) — Indianapolis International Airport will get 20 electric cars for use by airport travelers starting this fall after the city’s new electric car-sharing program debuts. The Indianapolis Star reports the airport’s BlueIndy car-charging stations should be in place by October on the fifth floor of its parking garage, across from the terminal. Airport executive director Mario Rodriguez says the electric BlueIndy cars will be a convenient transportation choice for airport travelers. BlueIndy is a partnership between Indianapolis and France-based Bollore Group, which makes the electric cars and their batteries. Indianapolis and BlueIndy will formally roll out the $50 million electric car-sharing partnership on Wednesday during a downtown ceremony. Twenty-five car-charging stations will open immediately, but BlueIndy eventually plans to provide 500 cars at 200 charging/parking stations across the city. [© fox59.com] http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2015/08/28/blueindy-cars-land-airport/71338910/ BlueIndy cars to land at airport John Tuohy August 28, 2015 Indy airport will have space for 20 of the electric rental vehicles. [image http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/01085f7f9fd2b530a1812b48b1295b77776a97f9/c=618-82-2254-1312&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2015/08/28/Indianapolis/Indianapolis/635763865755184049-BlueIndy2.jpg (Photo: Robert Scheer / The Star 2014 file photo) ] The BlueIndy electric car-sharing service will have space for 20 electric vehicles at Indianapolis International Airport, four times as much as its standard stations. The electric plug-ins will be on the fifth floor of the parking garage, across from the terminal. Traditional rental cars are parked on the first floor of the garage. Airport officials said BlueIndy also will pay airport fees, just as Enterprise, Hertz and other rental companies do. The city and BlueIndy will formally roll out its $50 million program at a Downtown ceremony Wednesday. Twenty-five stations will immediately open, but BlueIndy eventually plans to provide 500 cars at 200 charging/parking stations across the city. All of the other stations will provide spaces for five cars. Airport executive director Mario Rodriguez hailed the addition of BlueIndy as a convenient transportation choice for airport travelers. “This exciting partnership with BlueIndy will allow us to provide a new transportation option to our customers, while doing so in a sustainable and economical way,” Rodriguez said in a prepared statement. The BlueIndy proposal has not moved forward without controversy. Earlier this month, the City-County Council backed off on an unusual threat to tow five BlueIndy demo vehicles from a Downtown site. The council also says the BlueIndy funding proposal was never properly vetted and allege it has been rolled out in violation of city procedures, a charge the mayor’s office denies. In April, Uber and Lyft also began serving the airport. The app-based, ride-sharing companies pay a fee to the airport just as taxis do. The BlueIndy cars allow renters to check them out at a kiosk with a credit card and driver’s license. For those with a $120 yearly membership, the cost for a BlueIndy vehicle is $4 for every 20 minutes. The airport also charges $6 per rental, so a 20-minute trip Downtown would cost $10 and a 25-minute trip, $12. The car needs to be locked up to a charging station for the meter to stop running, but the parking is free. There is no airport assessment for driving up and locking a BlueIndy vehicle there, so a 20-minute drive from Downtown to the airport would only cost $4. However, a single trip in a taxi from the airport to Downtown, or vice versa, costs $30 to $35. Customers also can buy daily, weekly or monthly memberships to BlueIndy, but the rates per rental would be higher than if they had an annual membership. “It is really good for trips to the airport,” said Hervé Muller, BlueIndy president. “When we were out talking to people in the community, they often mentioned how much cheaper transportation to the airport was needed.” Muller said depending on the success at the airport, more spaces could be added in the future. “We are taking that site and others one step at a time,” Muller said. Sharon Faulkner, executive director of the American Car Rental Association in Long Lake, N.Y., said she was aware of the BlueIndy program, but the association had not taken a position on its placement at the airport. Representatives of Enterprise Holdings, which owns the Enterprise, National and Alamo car-rental companies, could not be reached for comment. The Indianapolis Taxicab Operators Association, which has opposed alternative transportation services, including gypsy cabs and Uber, also could not be reached for comment. A spokeswoman for Uber in Chicago said she was not familiar with BlueIndy and could not comment. The airport BlueIndy stations should be ready in October. [© indystar.com] ... [dated] http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Indianapolis-BlueIndy-EV-programs-causing-political-friction-tp4676862.html EVLN: Indianapolis BlueIndy EV programs causing political friction Jul 23, 2015 For EVLN posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/08/20/aston-martins-not-so-ambitious-electric-car.aspx Aston Martin's CEO sez 'We don't do Ludicrous because its stupid' http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/aston-martin-plans-electric-car-817303 http://www.northernontariobusiness.com/Industry-News/mining/2015/09/Musselwhite-Mine-becomes-test-bed-for-underground-electric-vehicles.aspx Musselwhite Mine becomes underground EV test bed http://www.northernontariobusiness.com/uploadedImages/Industry-News/mining/2015/09/PAPABRAVO_Cropped.jpg http://inhabitat.com/new-chargers-and-raiders-stadium-design-replaces-eye-catching-features-with-a-farmers-market-and-electric-car-charging-stations/ Raiders stadium design features EVSE and a farmers’ market + EVLN: First ever Leaf EV fire> no solid info (v) {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-20-BlueIndy-Bollore-Bluecar-EVs-Indianapolis-airport-tp4677447.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
