On Aug. 1, HOURCAR will expand its car-sharing service to the University of Minnesota, according to an article by the Star Tribune. Part of the nonprofit Neighborhood Energy Connection, this Minnesota-based car-sharing company has provided its service in Minneapolis and St. Paul since 2005.

According to the article, HOURCAR’s two-year contract will provide students with 10 vehicles on campus. Mary Morse, an HOURCAR spokeswoman, told the Star Tribune that most of the vehicles will be small economy vehicles such as Honda Civics, Honda Fits and Toyota Priuses.

“Cars are expensive and students are among the most cost-conscious of any consumer group,” Morse told the Star Tribune. “We can help them save money and give them an entry into a life that doesn’t require constant driving.”

For the past six years, the University of Minnesota had provided car sharing through ZipCar, but Steve Sanders — alternative transportation manager of the university’s parking and transportation services department — told the Star Tribune that one reason for the change was HOURCAR provided better insurance.

Users will pay a flat rate of $8 to use any of the HOURCAR vehicles, according to the article.

Click here for the full Star Tribune article: http://www.startribune.com/local/blogs/216473061.html