Zipcar Inc. announced in a Feb. 6 press release a new partnership with the city of Boston to launch a new fleet-sharing program called FleetHub. Through this program, a number of existing city-owned fleet vehicles will be outfitted with Zipcar's proprietary car-sharing technology for use by city employees.

Through the FleetHub program, Boston has combined vehicles once dedicated to city departments to create an interdepartmental fleet. By deploying Zipcar's platform in these vehicles, as well as implementing Zipcar's self-service online reservation and secure vehicle access system, the program is expected to help the city gain new efficiencies and reduce costs.

With a focus on fleet modernization and sustainability, the program is also likely to help dispose of older, under-utilized vehicles.

"Boston is always looking for ways to be more green — both in saving money and saving energy. This partnership with Zipcar helps us do both," Mayor Thomas M. Menino said. "It will modernize the city's fleet, allowing us to reduce costs and operate more efficiently, providing fuel-efficient vehicles as well as the technology to maintain a convenient, web-based system for use by city employees."

"As a Boston-area company, we're proud to partner with Mayor Menino and the city of Boston to help implement an innovative approach to sharing expensive city assets and resources, while improving efficiency and sustainability and helping the city modernize an aging fleet," said Scott Griffith, Zipcar chairman and CEO. "By utilizing Zipcar technology through the new FleetHub program, the city of Boston will be able to reduce the environmental and fiscal impacts of operating dedicated departmental fleets, and joins smart city governments focused on developing smart solutions to complex transportation challenges."

Boston selected Zipcar as its fleet technology provider through a competitive bidding process. The program will initially be launched as a six-month pilot, in which the city plans to extend to more vehicles following successful implementation.

By utilizing Zipcar technology, Boston will be able to design and configure its fleet footprint in real time for optimal utilization; manage critical activities including preventive maintenance, fueling, billing, and fleet distribution; and analyze usage and diagnostic data.

Zipcar's technology has already been adopted through similar initiatives in Washington, D.C. and the city of Chicago.