Self-service hourly car rental

[Luz Ramirez Pascual]

If you live in a large city in the US, you've probably seen people driving in Zipcars. These are not your typical rentals. Zipcar operates a fleet of 3,000 cars in 23 cities, but you won't find one at any airport. They are more likely to be Volkswagen Jettas or Mini Coopers than the bland sedans you get from Avis and Hertz. And there are no customer service clerks to deal with, no lines, no paper contracts to sign.

Instead, you book a car on the Web or through an app on your cell phone, where a map shows the vehicles currently available in your neighborhood. You swipe your wireless ID card to unlock the door, and the keys are inside. Insurance and gas are included in the fee. The cost: a $50 annual membership fee plus $8 to $15 per hour.

Created in 1999, Zipcar is already profitable in the major cities where it has been in business for more than 2 years (Boston, NY, SF and Washington). Lately the company has been on a growth spurt, adding 11 cities to its network. It's on track to bring in more than $60 million in revenue this year, staying well ahead of competitors like Flexcar and City CarShare.

Built from the ground up as a self-serve operation , Zipcar manages its entire fleet of 3,000 cars with just 110 employees. That means Zipcar can handle 27 cars per employee, compared with Avis's 15, and its cars are available 24 hours a day, so they can be used more often. Wanna read more? Visit: http://www.zipcar.com/