Montreal has put out a call of interest to car-sharing companies that use green vehicles in a bid to put more shared electric cars on the road.
One of the city's existing companies, however, said it is being shut out from the process.
In April, Mayor Denis Coderre said the city would launch a call to tender for car-sharing services to put 1000 electric cars on the roads.
Now, however, Car2Go General Manager Jeremi Lavoie said it's clear the city isn't interested in his fleet of cars.
“They launched a call for interest with certain criteria that for now excludes Car2Go,” said Lavoie.
The city's criteria include:
- Electric cars with a range of 150 kilometres per charge
- Cars that hold at least four passengers
- Cars that are compatible with the Opus card system used by Montreal transit authorities
“We're asking the companies that would have some interest in doing business in Montreal, to come and sit around the table, and do the job together,” explained Aref Salem on the executive committee of Montreal.
Very few electric cars can go 150 kilometers on one charge, said Projet Montreal city councillor Guillaume Lavoie.
“Two thirds of the world’s car makers for this are excluded from the start,” he said.
City hall opposition said the Coderre administration is trying to introduce a monopoly with its criteria, favouring a car-sharing service from France.
“Those that had doubts that it was rigged from the start, those doubts are confirmed,” said the city councillor.
The city says it's looking for interested companies all over the world to apply.
“We're going to look at these criteria. We're going to see if the technology is there, if we can go to the autonomy that we're talking about, if not, we're going to change,” said Salem.
Car2Go said it intends to apply for the electric car-sharing project but hopes the city will be more flexible with its criteria.
The deadline for applications is Aug. 24.
