GIG Electric Car-Share Program Comes To Sacramento

The nation's largest all-electric, car-share fleet is currently launching in the city of Sacramento.

GIG Car Share now has 100 cars available to share on Sacramento streets with 150 ready to be added in the coming weeks. The company uses Chevy Bolts and added bike racks to each car.

For the past month, about two dozen were in the city, as AAA — the non-profit behind the program — had volunteers test the system.

Comedian Keith Lowell Jensen was one of the volunteers. He showed how much like Sacramento's Jump bikes, the cars are controlled through a smartphone app.

"I'll just say 'unlock' and now it's unlocking the car," Jensen says. "The unexpected thing was, I don't know if I can go back to my Toyota Corolla now, I've fallen in love with the car itself."

The battery range is estimated at more than 230 miles, and Jensen says he was able to use the car for an entire week without it needing a recharge.

Cars must be picked up and dropped off within GIG's Sacramento boundaries, but they can be used outside the area.

AAA spokesman Michael Blasky says the organization is getting into the electric car-share business because the world of transportation is changing.

"Private car ownership is trending down," Blasky said. "Our younger members are telling us that they want to see different types of services. GIG Car Share is one of our first products, but one of the ones that we're really excited about."

Rates run 40 cents a minute, $15 an hour, or $85 a day. GIG covers all charging and legal parking fees through a deal with the city.