Going Places – Changing how we get around

Ten years ago, Evo Car Share changed the game. VP, Amitis Khorsandi, reflects on a decade of expansion, innovation and what's next. 

It’s not every day that you get to be part of a groundbreaking local innovation, but that’s my story. Ten years ago, I was on the BCAA team that devised and launched Evo Car Share in Vancouver and as we celebrate our 10th birthday, I have to say that it’s been the ride of my life.

A decade ago, we saw a shift in how people lived and moved around. Car ownership was declining in urban centres, leaving a potential gap between owning cars, transit, walking, biking, and taxis. We asked ourselves: how can we give more British Columbians the freedom to get around while enjoying their best lives? 

And so, Evo Car Share was created as a new choice for urban mobility. We launched with 250 hybrids, equipped with ski and bike racks and room for five, in a home zone around downtown Vancouver. Today, we’ve grown to 2,500 hybrid and electric vehicles and nearly a quarter million members across nine cities in the Lower Mainland and Victoria. 

Evo's become a verb. We Evo to the game, to the store, to work, and for weekend adventures. It's incredible to see how Evo has changed urban mobility, making transportation more convenient, affordable and sustainable. And we’ve been part of people’s lives in ways we never imagined— from hospital runs for new births to being the ride of choice for weddings and engagements. 

Shared mobility is about more choices. A movement away from the personally owned vehicle. And together with Translink and other shared mobility providers in BC we are continuing to work on making those choices easy through partnerships like the Mobility as a Service (MAAS) pilot in which participants use the Ridelink app to plan and book their trips across transit, carshare, and bikeshare services in one place.     

As we celebrate this 10-year milestone, we're just getting started! We're working on smarter technology, expanding services, and building stronger community partnerships. We are also diving into micromobility with Evolve E-Bike and E-Scooter Share, helping folks with an active way of covering the first and last mile of their journeys. Municipalities including Whistler and Nanaimo have chosen a local partner in Evolve to help people get around their communities in active, climate-friendly ways.  

So, here's to 10 amazing years and many more adventures ahead.  

~ Amitis