Our community strives to reduce carbon emissions. The Commons is 'all electric', with no fossil fuels required in daily usage. With two community-share electric cars and ample bicycle parking in the basement, the focus is on active and zero-emission transport for residents. Being centrally located, The Commons has a high walkability score – 99 out of 100 - which means that there is no need to drive for daily errands. Most locations can be easily reached by walking, riding, scooting or public transport.
The Commons Committee has adopted a Sustainable Transport Strategy with aims such as that the community embraces active, healthy and zero emissions transport options, and that The Commons contributes to making our city more liveable. A Sustainable Transport Working Group leads efforts to implement the strategy.
The Commons Committee has adopted a Sustainable Transport Strategy with aims such as that the community embraces active, healthy and zero emissions transport options, and that The Commons contributes to making our city more liveable. A Sustainable Transport Working Group leads efforts to implement the strategy.
Australia's first resident electric vehicle carshare program
The Commons Hobart is the first residential community in Australia (that we know of!) to have a resident-operated carshare program dedicated to 100% electric vehicles (Battery Electric Vehicles or BEV) only.
What cars?
Benefits of EV carshare programs
Carshare programs reduce the costs of building homes. There was a significant cost saving in the building of The Commons due to not having to provide storage for a large number of private vehicles. Including basement carparking in residential developments adds over $50,000 per car space to the cost of a build - this of course is passed on to the purchasers of the units.
EV carshare programs reduce the need for provision of many carpark spaces in residential developments, provide a good alternative to private car ownership, and contribute to more sustainable lifestyles for the residents.
Photo credit: Robert Gavin
What cars?
- Two EV cars are available in the Commons Carshare program. At present one is owned by the Body Corporate, and one is owned by a resident member of the community.
- Booking and payment is made via the peer-to-peer Drive mate app. Drivers must be verified residents of The Commons in order to access the vehicles via the app. Drive mate manages insurances, recordkeeping and remittances to the owners of the vehicles.
- Bookings are limited to short term hire in order to maximise availability of the individual vehicles for residents. To complement the carshare program, there are several options for external hire of EVs located within walking distance of The Commons, so finding alternative zero emission hire vehicles for longer distance or duration trips is very easy. Other carshare options include Evee, Flexicar and Turo. Several commercial carhire companies are available within a couple of blocks.
- Most charging is done via overnight trickle charging, as is done by most EV car owners. There is an EO 7/22 kW AC fast charger in the garage that enables faster charging if a user should return the car with low battery and the vehicle is likely to be needed soon by another driver.
- Energy/fuel costs are covered by the hire fees or in-car charge cards.
Benefits of EV carshare programs
Carshare programs reduce the costs of building homes. There was a significant cost saving in the building of The Commons due to not having to provide storage for a large number of private vehicles. Including basement carparking in residential developments adds over $50,000 per car space to the cost of a build - this of course is passed on to the purchasers of the units.
EV carshare programs reduce the need for provision of many carpark spaces in residential developments, provide a good alternative to private car ownership, and contribute to more sustainable lifestyles for the residents.
Photo credit: Robert Gavin