What is Light City Carshare?
Light City Carshare is a membership based electric vehicle sharing program that is bringing new, clean, connected transportation options to Buffalo, starting on the East Side.
To learn more about Light City Carshare please click here.
Light City Carshare utilizes the ZEV Co-op software platform for reserving vehicles and managing bookings. This software platform is available as a smartphone application available for download from Google Play and Apple Store. Light City members agree to the ZEV Coop terms and conditions for service and policies set forth in the Light City/ZEV Member handbook.
What are the membership qualifications?
Members must be 21 years of age or older, have a valid driver’s license, a valid credit, debit or prepaid card.
How much does it cost?
The rates for the service are $5/hour, $40/day and .45/mile after 150 miles driven during a reservation.
What is included?
Insurance, vehicle maintenance and roadside assistance are all included in the hourly and daily rates. More insurance terms and requirements are stated in the ZEV Coop terms and conditions as well as the member handbook.
How does the application process work?
Fill out an online form at bookings.zev.coop or by downloading the ZEV co-op smartphone app on Apple or Google Play. Applicant approval or denial will be notified within 3-5 business days after you sign up.
How do I find a car that I booked?
Each Light City Carshare vehicle is parked at a designated “home” space. No other vehicles are allowed in these special tow-away zones, just like taxi stands and bus stops.
All of our vehicles and parking stalls will have the Light City Carshare logo on them which will allow you to access the vehicle with no problems. You can also open the ZEV co-op app and it will show you the license plate information of the vehicle you booked.
How do I get the keys for a car I booked?
No keys necessary! You unlock your reserved vehicle via your smartphone. In the event that you do not have a smartphone to access the vehicle you will be issued a smartcard RFID card that you can scan to access the vehicle that you have reserved.
How far can I drive the carshare vehicle?
There is a cap on how many miles are included per trip and after you reach your limit of 150 miles per trip there will be a charge of .35 cents per mile. Remember that you are driving an electric vehicle and it has a certain range of miles it can go before it needs to be recharged.
Can I take the Carsharing vehicle out of New York State?
No, you cannot take the vehicle on travel outside of New York State.
Can I take the Carsharing vehicle out of the country?
No, you cannot take the vehicle on travel outside of the country.
How long can I keep a carsharing vehicle?
The maximum reservation length is 24 hours.
What if I am late returning the vehicle?
If you know that you are going to be late, log on to your ZEV co-op app or website to see if you can extend your booking. Always wait for a confirmation page. If someone has the car immediately after you, your extension will not go through, and you should call us to avoid getting a penalty on your account.
We will help make arrangements to accommodate your late return for the next member. If you are the member who is waiting, we will contact you as soon as we know your car might be late or switch you to another vehicle if it is available.
What if the car I booked is not there?
This is unusual, but does happen occasionally. Call us immediately at 716-274-7040 and we will help you locate the car, move to another car, or do our best to get you to your destination another way.
What if there is a crash?
Call 911 or the police, just as you would for any car crash or fender bender. Make sure everyone involved is safe or being cared for. Then immediately call our customer support staff 716-274-7040 and we will help you through next steps.
In all cases you must contact us before continuing your trip (and in the majority of cases we will require you to wait and obtain a police report).
What if I get stranded, the car isn’t operating correctly or the car doesn’t turn on?
Call us immediately at 716-274-7040
How do I charge the vehicle?
We ensure the vehicle is at least at 80% charge at the time your booking starts. During your trip, If you see that your battery dips below 30 miles of battery range and you need to charge the vehicle during the trip you can use an app called “Plugshare” to find out where there are operable and public use chargers near you. You can also call our Customer Support Center and we can help you find a charger. Most of the time, you should have enough battery range to do your trip and return the vehicle to its home station where you will connect to the home charger and get that vehicle ready for the next member reservation!
Can I transport other people in the vehicle? Are passengers covered by your insurance?
As a Light City member you can drive with other people in the vehicle. If it is discovered that a non-member has driven a car, a warning will be assessed to the account holder as well as possible termination of membership.
Can a non-Light City member drive the vehicle I reserved?
Only approved Light City members with active reservations can drive the vehicle. If it is discovered that a non-member has driven a car, a warning will be assessed to the account holder as well as possible termination of membership.
Can I bring my pet with me?
Light City only allows service animals in the vehicles but members must provide certification of their service animal credentials ahead of their reservation.
Can I smoke in the vehicle?
All Light City vehicles are non-smoking. Evidence of smoking in a vehicle (odor or residue from butts or ashes) will result in an immediate fine to the member. Repeated violations of this rule will result in termination of your membership.
What about child seats?
We do not provide child seats and we encourage you to use your own child seats should you need one during your trip.
What happens if the car is dirty when I arrive to pick it up for my reservation?
If a vehicle is dirty when you arrive to pick it up, please report it immediately using our ZEV co-op app or by calling us at 716-274-7040. Please include the date and time of your booking along with a description of the mess and any supporting photos.
Can I pick up a car in one location and drop it off at another location?
You must drop off the vehicle at the same location where you picked it up. Failure to do so will result in a fine or termination from the program.
What happens when my driver’s license expires?
Your account will be in pending status and you will not be able to use any vehicle. Once you upload a picture of your new driver’s license, a new MVR will get processed with your new driver’s license.