I-GO
Encyclopedia
I-GO is a Chicago
-based not-for-profit car sharing organization.
, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and implementing new strategies that make urban communities more livable and environmentally sustainable.
. Since its inception, I-GO has worked to catalyze a set of transportation innovations that make it feasible and desirable for Chicago residents to get around conveniently and economically without having to own a car and, at the same time, reduce vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions. By contributing to the environmental improvement of the Chicago area and the decrease in expenses for residents, I-GO's triple bottom line impact provides a significant social return on investment.
The average fuel efficiency
of I-GO's fleet is 35 miles per gallon, and the fleet is composed of low-emission vehicles. Approximately 40% of the fleet are hybrid vehicles, and a growing percentage are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Each I-GO vehicle removes an estimated 14 cars from Chicago's congested roads.
, City of Chicago and Chicago Park District
. Businesses such as Whole Foods
and Dominick's
have provided parking spaces dedicated to I-GO cars, and I-GO has also worked with universities, including Northwestern University
, University of Chicago
, Loyola University Chicago
, DePaul University
, University of Illinois at Chicago
and Illinois Institute of Technology
.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-based not-for-profit car sharing organization.
Overview
I-GO is an independent 501(c)(3) established in 2002 by the Center for Neighborhood TechnologyCenter for Neighborhood Technology
The Center for Neighborhood Technology is a non-profit organization, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, which is committed to sustainable development and livable urban communities. CNT, as an “innovations center for urban sustainability”, researches, invents, and tests urban strategies that use...
, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and implementing new strategies that make urban communities more livable and environmentally sustainable.
Mission
I-GO’s mission is to reduce car ownership rates, decrease transportation costs, reduce urban congestion and improve air quality in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Since its inception, I-GO has worked to catalyze a set of transportation innovations that make it feasible and desirable for Chicago residents to get around conveniently and economically without having to own a car and, at the same time, reduce vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions. By contributing to the environmental improvement of the Chicago area and the decrease in expenses for residents, I-GO's triple bottom line impact provides a significant social return on investment.
Operations
I-GO currently has cars located in approximately 30 Chicago neighborhoods. I-GO members can reserve a vehicle online or by calling I-GO's customer service. Members can also create and modify their reservations using smart phones. Once a reservation has been created, the member can access the reserved car using a member card, use the car and then return it to the same location. Members pay a one-time fee to join, an annual renewal fee, and are then billed by the hour for their use of I-GO cars; specific rates vary depending on type of plan. Gas and insurance are both included in I-GO's rates. As of June 2009, I-GO had more than 12,000 members and 185 cars available for use.The average fuel efficiency
Fuel efficiency
Fuel efficiency is a form of thermal efficiency, meaning the efficiency of a process that converts chemical potential energy contained in a carrier fuel into kinetic energy or work. Overall fuel efficiency may vary per device, which in turn may vary per application, and this spectrum of variance is...
of I-GO's fleet is 35 miles per gallon, and the fleet is composed of low-emission vehicles. Approximately 40% of the fleet are hybrid vehicles, and a growing percentage are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Each I-GO vehicle removes an estimated 14 cars from Chicago's congested roads.
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles
I-GO recently added the first two plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to its fleet in April 2009 as a result of a joint effort with ComEd. I-GO is planning on converting an additional 30 cars in its fleet in fall of 2009.Partnerships
I-GO has strategic partnerships and alliances with government offices, local businesses, as well as other non-profits and independent car sharing organizations. Among others, I-GO has worked closely with the Chicago Transit AuthorityChicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois and some of its surrounding suburbs....
, City of Chicago and Chicago Park District
Chicago Park District
The Chicago Park District is the oldest and largest park district in the U.S.A, with a $385 million annual budget. It has the distinction of spending the most per capita on its parks, even more than Boston in terms of park expenses per capita...
. Businesses such as Whole Foods
Whole foods
Whole foods are foods that are unprocessed and unrefined, or processed and refined as little as possible, before being consumed. Whole foods typically do not contain added ingredients, such as salt, carbohydrates, or fat. Examples of whole foods include unpolished grains, beans, fruits, vegetables...
and Dominick's
Dominick's
Dominick's Finer Foods, Inc. is a grocery store chain and subsidiary of Safeway Inc. with locations mainly in the Chicago area, Illinois, USA. Dominick's distribution center is located in Northlake, while its management offices are located in Oak Brook....
have provided parking spaces dedicated to I-GO cars, and I-GO has also worked with universities, including Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
, DePaul University
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
, University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop...
and Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology, commonly called Illinois Tech or IIT, is a private Ph.D.-granting university located in Chicago, Illinois, with programs in engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, communications, industrial technology, information technology, design, and law...
.
History
- 2001: I-GO is created by the Center for Neighborhood TechnologyCenter for Neighborhood TechnologyThe Center for Neighborhood Technology is a non-profit organization, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, which is committed to sustainable development and livable urban communities. CNT, as an “innovations center for urban sustainability”, researches, invents, and tests urban strategies that use...
as the first car sharing organization in the Chicago market - 2002: I-GO begins operations as a pilot project with six cars
- April 2005: I-GO begins its suburban expansion, placing cars in Evanston, IL
- August 2008: I-GO and eight other leading non-profit and independent North American car sharing organizations adopt a code of ethics to specify standards and strengthen the industry
- October 2008: I-GO membership reaches 10,000
- January 2009: I-GO establishes a joint smart card with the Chicago Transit AuthorityChicago Transit AuthorityChicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois and some of its surrounding suburbs....
, allowing I-GO members to access CTA buses and trains using a single card - April 2009: Two plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are added to I-GO fleet; the joint effort between I-GO and ComEd is formally recognized by Governor Quinn
See also
- Car Sharing
- List of carsharing operators
- Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles