Staypineapple has launched an electric vehicle car-sharing service in partnership with Zipcar. Exclusive for Staypineapple guest use, Zipcar EVs are now available at Staypineapple’s Hotel Rose in Portland, Ore.; and Watertown Hotel in Seattle.
Each of Staypineapple’s participating hotels have a Zipcar Chevy Bolt available, parked and charging at the hotels’ on-site EV charging stations. These EVs are only available for Staypineapple guests.
“The launch of our Zipcar EV partnership program is an incredible step forward in Staypineapple’s efforts to reduce our company’s carbon footprint, while also offering unique experiences and services to our guests,” Staypineapple President Dina Belon said in a statement. “These EVs are plugged into our hotels’ on-site charging stations, which are powered primarily by renewable energy, providing our guests with a more sustainable and responsible means of driving around and exploring during their stay with us.”
A complimentary Zipcar membership will be available to guests at the hotels, so the only expense to guests will be the hourly or daily rental rates and fees associated with booking and driving the Zipcar EVs. Zipcar membership includes 24/7 on-demand, self-service access to electric charging (or gas) vehicles by the hour, day or week, insurance options, maintenance and dedicated parking.
“We are thrilled to work with Staypineapple, a like-minded partner who values environmental sustainability, a key benefit of the car-free lifestyle car-sharing enables, especially with the increasing adoption of EVs,” said Kate Smith, head of business to business and partnerships at Zipcar. “As Zipcar expands our fleet of electric vehicles nationwide, we aim to make the EV driving experience accessible for all who need affordable, convenient transportation. We value innovative partners like Staypineapple who are committed to creating a positive, environmentally friendly guest experience and for collaborating with us to drive the path forward for sustainable, electric transportation.”
Zipcar was the first car-sharing provider in the U.S. to introduce both electric and hybrid vehicles in its shared fleet. Throughout 2023, Zipcar expanded its EV fleet in select cities nationwide and, as part of the White House EV Acceleration Challenge, committed to allocating 25 percent of its EV fleet to disadvantaged communities that may not be able to afford the cost of car ownership and specific requirements of EVs such as dedicated charging, parking and maintenance. Also under the federal initiative, Zipcar is committed to doubling its EV fleet size in 2024.
To access these EVs, Staypineapple guests in Portland and Seattle’s University District can either pre-register and reserve time (all instructions will be included in Staypineapple’s pre-arrival emails) or they can request further information from the hotel’s front desk team upon arrival.