Twisto puts eight self-service cars back in the Caen agglomeration
By Christophe Jaquet
Published on
The service of cars Fr self-service had already been tested by Renault and Caen la mer three years ago near Caen and D’Herouville-Saint-Clair (Calvados). Without much success, Covid-19 and health crisis oblige. This time thecar sharing is integrated into the public transport network Twistoalongside trams and buses, and self-service bicycles (Vélolib’) or long-term rental for 6 and 12 months.
Renamed Twisto Autothe self-service car service has been open since Tuesday, July 12, 2022, via the app Renault Mobilize Sharing, to download on your smartphone (in the App Store or Google Play). It is this application that controls everything:
- initial registration for the service by filling out a form, after scanning the identity card and driving licence;
- the display and location of available vehicles;
- the advance reservation of one of the 8 cars offered in the urban community of Caen la mer;
- unlocking the chosen vehicle, before taking the ignition key from the glove box;
- the inventory of entry and exit, taking pictures around the car.
Eight resorts in Caen la mer
Caen la mer has adopted car sharing developed by Mobilize Share, a subsidiary of the French manufacturer Renault, after other cities in France, such as Paris and Arcachon. The application can be used there in the same way. An integrated cartography makes it possible to locate the partner agglomerations.
On the territory of Caen la mer, only 8 cars are available – 2 electric (Renault Zoé) and 6 hybrid (Renault Clio) – and are recognizable by their blue and yellow decoration, in dedicated parking spaces. They are spread over 8 stations. Caen has 6: near the Town Hall; rue Gémare, near place Bouchard; on Campus 1 of the University, rue du Magasin à Poudre; resistance square; in the Effia car park near the station; station Square.
Two other locations are available in Hérouville-Saint-Clair, next to the Café des Images, and in Ouistreham, on the Alexandre Lofi esplanade, in front of the casino. The solution adopted is that of “loop” car-sharing: the rented vehicle must be returned to the station where it was picked up.
“An additional tool”
For Caen la mer, it is an affordable service. Car rental from Twisto Auto costs €5 per hour, all included (insurance and breakdown assistance, fuel or electricity consumed). Within the limit of 50 km traveled in one day. Beyond that, each additional kilometer is charged at €0.20. According to Nicolas Joyau, vice-president of Caen la mer in charge of mobility, “it is a complementary tool to Twisto’s other offers”. The elected official is convinced of this, car-sharing “responds to the observation that you only use your personal car 2% of the time – the rest, it is immobilized”.
Nicolas Joyau hammers it, “this initiative of the urban community makes it possible to respond to climate issues”. Why ? Because with car sharing, cars are only used “for essential needs”, “essential travel”. It remains to be seen whether this service will finally convince around Caen. In which case, the fleet of 8 cars could be insufficient.
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