Car2go cuts Richmond, North Vancouver coverage

Those little car2go Smart cars won't be available in much of Richmond much longer.

The company announced it isdiscontinuing the majority of its one-waycarsharing service in Richmond,and shrinking its service area in North Vancouver starting Feb. 1.

Only three locationsin Richmond will remain active in the car2go home area: YVR, Kwantlen College, and the Mitchell Island Sports Centre.

In a notice to members, the company blames low demand for the scaling back, noting that vehicles parked in Richmond sit idle forfor over 13 hours a day on average.

"To put it in perspective in the rest of the home area cars will sit for two hours," said Justin MacDonald, regional marketing manager forcar2go. "By discontinuing service in the areas where cars are utilized the least we're ableto improve the circulation of vehicle throughout the rest of the home area."

Macdonald says Vancouver car2gohas the largest membership and fleet in North America with95,000 members and1275 vehicles.

In North Vancouver the service will be reduced slightly by a half square kilometer in the western most portion of the North Van home area.

• Revised car2gohome area map

Car2go expanded to Richmond inDecember of 2014.

According to reports, the company also announced it is closing its Copenhagen, Denmark operations.