Green Commuter’s Tesla X program makes ride sharing affordable in LA

 

teslaUber, Lyft, and Los Angeles‘s new metro rail have shifted the way Angelenos travel. Many people have opted to take public transportation for convenience and affordability, while some have even decided to get rid of their pricey vehicles. Now, add to the LA transportation game, a car sharing program called Green Commuter, an innovative clean energy company that will allow you to rent or carpool a Tesla Model X.

Early adopters can rent a Tesla Model X with monthly packages starting at $10 an hour during weekdays directly through Green Commuter. The company is also offering a $25 ‘pay as you go’ membership for people who want to become car share members and use the Tesla Model X sporadically. This perk waives annual membership fees and allows rental of $18 an hour with no monthly commitments. Even weekend packages were offered at $100 per weekend rental but are sold out. Remaining weekend packages are offered at $150 and $200, with 3 and 5 weekend packages offered at $525 and $750, while quantities last.

Green Commuter’s proprietary software will enable its fleet of all-electric ten-passenger SUVs to be used by thousands of workers to commute to and from their jobs during rush hour and will be offered as a car share for all Green Commuter members who sign up through the Indiegogo campaign, the rest of the time.

Tesla Green Commuter program Los Angeles
Zero emissions. Photo credit: Melissa Curtin

“Angelino’s understand traffic and care about the environment. We offer a premium all-electric Indiegogo car sharing campaign that’s affordable. Gasoline vanpool vehicles are very polluting, usually with ratings from 12 to 18 MPG in real life driving conditions so we’re the first to use only zero-emissions vehicles instead,” said Green Commuter CEO Gustavo Occhiuzzo.

Occhiuzzo chose the Tesla Model X for the Green Commuter program because it is the only all-electric vehicle currently available that meets vanpool criteria, including seating for seven passengers and a battery capacity sufficient for long-range driving. The vehicle was also ideal for car sharing because of its appeal to users who would use it for travel with friends and family around town or popular nearby weekend destinations, such as Las Vegas, Palm Springs and San Diego.

“Our goal is to provide a great vanpool and car share experience which is affordable, desirable and sustainable. We’re starting in Los Angeles, one of the most forward thinking cities in the country, but one that has great environmental challenges and congestion issues. Our members will experience a better commute or a great car sharing experience in one of the most exciting, advanced cars on the road — the Tesla Model X, while reducing their carbon footprint and alleviating congestion on our roads.” – Gustavo Occhiuzzo

Drivers who want to rent the car on weekdays will pay just $100/month for 8 hours of driving during the month, with a minimum rental period of one hour. This will be a lifetime rate as long as they continue to pay monthly with no lapses. If they need more time, they will be charged $12.50/hour. When the Indiegogo campaign reaches 200 members, ‘Weekdays’ plan members will receive an extra ½ hour credit. If the campaign reaches its goal of 400 members in this category everyone earns another ½ hour – for a total of 9 hours a month. The roll-out of the packages will begin in December 2016. Drivers can also choose the Weekdays Plus package which provides 25 hours per month of driving for $250. Incentives from the city as well as some companies may also make this an attractive package.

Tesla Green Commuter program Los Angeles
Tesla X launches its Green Commuter program in Los Angeles. (Photo credit: Melissa Curtin)

I thought about how I would use this if I did not have a car. If I needed to get to the grocery store, I would look on the Green Commuter App (coming soon)  to see where the closest ride is available, then I would have to get to that location to drive the car. The next person would pick up the car from where I ended up. Living out in Malibu that may not be so easy, but living in the heart of the city make make ride sharing an easier option. Green Commuter’s goal is to allow up to 7 people a economical ride, especially for long commutes. However, I thought about this more and that would definitely involve a lot of time picking each person up, but I assume if you are commuting over an hour one way (like most Angelenos) it would make sense, especially since you could also do work on the way or even take a nap. Families or friends going on a weekend road trip may also love this Tesla X SUV option.

We had a chance to drive the Tesla X for the day. Feeling much like a mom van, I wish it had a sunroof since almost every day in LA is sunny. The large front window that offers an unobstructed view on the sides and top feels aerodynamic and modern. The stereo system with its grand touch screen makes it easy to tap and control music choices, feeling like a massive iPhone. The back seats are roomy, but the seats in the way back would definitely only feel comfortable for a small person. You don’t really need to break in an electric car, which I found amusing because as soon as you take your foot off the pedal the car slows down. Our favorite design feature were the doors that fly open above the car like wings. Also, the door locks as soon as you exit the car and the key just has to be on you to just start the car.

Green Commuter is a just another way that companies are looking to transform the future of transportation. I predict we will see more of these electric ride share options in the years to come and eventually cars will drive us, like we may see with Uber’s self-driving fleet soon. Would you consider renting a Tesla X?

Melissa Curtin

Melissa Curtin's globetrotting and love of learning was fueled after traveling around the world on Semester at Sea in college. She is the co-founder of LaLaScoop, an online hub sharing the beauty and vibrancy of LA life through a plethora of reviews on LA’s hottest trends, places, products, people and happenings from the coastline to the Hollywood Hills. She has been a passionate educator for over seventeen years. Melissa taught in England in 2004 thanks to a Fulbright scholarship. After teaching in the Maryland public school system for almost a decade, she left the conservative East Coast environment in Washington, DC, for West Coast living. After 8 years in Los Angeles, she is officially a proud, happy, warm Angeleno. Some of her favorite destinations include Formentera Island off of Ibiza, Myanmar, Loreto, Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, Fiji, Morocco, Vietnam, Belgium, Italy, Sicily, Prague, Egypt, Greece, and Paris. She delights in dogs that smile at her, vintage hats, hiking, exploring, dancing, and basking in Malibu sunsets.

2 responses to “Green Commuter’s Tesla X program makes ride sharing affordable in LA

  1. Nice article Melissa, very informative – will keep an eye on progress.

    LA always seems ahead of the curve on things like this – and this is from someone who lives in Dubai!

    That said, even though fuel is going up in price it;s still unlikely we’re gonna be dashing for the Teslas just yet.

    Have a lovely day 🙂

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