wtf Paris? I thought we had something going here...

http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,641430,00.html

"Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë, building on the success of the city's popular Vélib curbside bike rental scheme, is planning to deploy a fleet of 2,000 electric cars that customers can pick up and drop off at rental stands around the city. Another 2,000 vehicles will be offered in two dozen surrounding cities."

The surrounding cities thing kind makes sense... Rent a bike in town; going outta town = rent a car. And if you are renting a car, it may as well be electric? But the limited range...

"Although rates haven't been set yet, city officials say each half-hour is likely to cost $6 to $9... Customers would have to register for Autolib in advance, presenting a valid driver's license and paying a monthly subscription fee of about $22 to $29."

"Environmentalists favor ride-sharing programs or more traditional rental schemes in which cars have to be reserved and then returned to the same location, which discourages people from going for drives on a whim.... Advocates of Autolib, however, contend that people will be less likely to buy cars if they have access to flexible... The cars will probably have a driving range of no more than 100 miles before needing a recharge, making them unsuitable for long trips."