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What's with Zipcar?
MrMrBen asks: "I've been seeing ads for Zipcar on the subway in NY. I didn't realize that it's actually out there and working. Apparently, you make a reservation on their web site, show up at the car, wave your membership card over the windshield and it unlocks for you. Does anyone know what kind of wireless network they use? Can they track the car while you're driving it? Have people been using zipcars, and what have their impression been? Is this the future of cars for city dwellers?"
I've been involved in the development of a similar project, which has not hit the market yet (and probably never will, due to other factors than technology). We didn't go for the "wave your card in from of the windshield" approach, but used SMS(!) for communication. Essentially, there was a GPS receiver and a GSM module in the car, and a box stuffed with our custom software.
:) To bad it never took off, but nice to hear that someone else got things through the non technical stumbling blocks of such a huge project...
The user made a booking on a website. When he was by the car, he sent an SMS to our server, which analyzed the SMS (for passphrase, phone number, correct car id etc), and if the SMS passed the tests an encrypted unlock request was sent to the car. Similar approach was used when locking the car.
The stuff was combined with GPS so, yes, we could keep track of the cars - but that info was SMS based too - we sen't a "please tell us your position" SMS to the car, which then replied with GPS coordinates. So, I guess that if you managed to unlock the car (which was non-trivial, you'd have to hack our encryption scheme and protocol - tricky but possible), and then trash the GSM module you'd be safe. OTOH, the cars we were using (or rather, supposed to use this with) were highly peculiar (as in they certainly stood out in a crowd) electric driven things that had a range of 90 km, so it wouldn't really do you much good.
It was a rather cool project, actually
May we live long and die out
Actually, they seem to encourage people like me. I took an interest in Zipcar a couple years ago, before I had my license, and corresponded with the CEO, Robin Chase, about it. She urged me to join, and I explained that I didn't drive.
"Well," she wrote, "then you'll have a clean record when you apply!"
I said to a friend of mine recently: I could buy a car, and practice with one that I own, I could borrow a car from someone I have a personal relationship with, or I can do Zipcar,and be using one I have a business relationship with. That really seems like the best idea of the three.
Here in Sweden there's a similar scheme (though without the snazzy technical solution). There are many car co-operatives where for a small yearly sum one gets access to one of several cars the co-op owns for a much lower rental price than a straightforward hire car.
For drivers like myself (living near enough to work to cycle and not requiring a car on a daily basis) the system works out incredibly well.
Hmmm - if I were in the market to start my own company I would actually look at something like Zipcar and aim it at the London area. I would love to try and help reduce the amount of privately owned cars in the UK.
A little planning goes a long way...
What happens if you find the car (internally or externally) dirty? (e.g. mud on the outside, fast-food on the inside)
;-)
I note you are not allowed to smoke - what happens if you do? Hopefully the airbags go off..
Basically, I'm just wondering what would happen if the slob after you said "oh, the guy before me made all this mess".
Matt