Highlights from the Webinar: “Demystifying Carshare in the Twin Cities”
In March 2025, Move Minneapolis and HOURCAR, the Minnesota non-profit carshare organization, hosted a webinar to explore the ways carshare can be meet day-to-day transportation needs. Carshare provides the benefits of having access to a car without the hassles, maintenance, and costs of actual ownership. This sounds great, but how does carshare work for individuals, residential properties, and businesses in Minneapolis?
HOURCAR celebrates 20 years in our community
In 2005, HOURCAR launched a member subscription, hub-based carshare service in the Twin Cities. The non-profit organization complements transit and other sustainable transportation modes so that HOURCAR members are less dependent on car ownership. By partnering with Metro Transit, HOURCAR makes it possible for members to use a Go-To card to access the car fleet. The fleet of 50 vehicles and hub locations are located in Minneapolis and St Paul. HOURCAR helps people get around without having to spend thousands of dollars every year to own and operate a car.
In 2022, HOURCAR partnered with the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Xcel Energy, and a variety of public and philanthropic supporters to design and launch Evie Carshare with an all electric fleet. Evie Carshare lets people make one-way trips with electric vehicles fueled by renewable energy. Evie also offers an expanded service area that includes more neighborhoods traditionally underserved by the transportation system, especially neighborhoods where large proportions of residents are low-income and/or Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC).
The webinar panel featuring a carshare operator, property manager, and a long-time HOURCAR member.
Zoe Green – Engagement Associate, HOURCAR / Zoe promotes equitable and sustainable transportation in the Twin Cities
Lindsey Johansen – Construction & Development Coordinator, Crowe Companies / Crowe Companies is a multifamily hub and business account holder
Nathan Bakken – Transit Information Data Coordinator, Metro Transit / Nathan is a North Loop resident who uses carshare to supplement transit
In the webinar, Zoe Green demonstrates the steps members take to book a vehicle, the different membership categories, and initiatives for car placement at multi-family housing. Cost saving of carsharing vs car ownership is cited as a strong motivator for HOURCAR/Evie members.
Zoe Green – “We found that AAA (American Automobile Association) reported in their 2024 ‘Your Driving Costs’ study, that the average cost per year to operate a new vehicle was $12,297. Given the late UCLA Professor Donald Shoup‘s finding that the average vehicle sits idle for about 95% of the time, vehicle ownership costs over $28 per hour when it’s used.”
Lindsey Johansen explains how adding two HOURCARs to a new housing development in the North Loop called Instersect has expanded the transportation options for the neighborhood. It is an amenity that speaks to the sustainability mission of Crowe Companies as well as making the property more desirable.
Lindsey Johansen – “We provide two electric vehicles on our property. We cover the electricity for them and have an agreement to make them available to our residents, in addition to the community.”
Nathan Bakken chose to live in the North Loop neighborhood because it is walkable and has easy access to transit. His household does not own a car, but they occasionally need to use one. As an HOURCAR member, Nathan can choose one of several nearby vehicles for errands or weekend trips.
Nathan Bakken – “There is demand for carshare in the North Loop, because a lot of people move to the North Loop as a car-lite or car-free family. Because my apartment building charges $200 a month of a parking space, and I’m like, ‘No thank you'”
Watch the webinar:
Learn more about carsharing resources:
