Created by BCAA, Evo is the evolution of car sharing in B.C. Evo is pick-up and drop off anywhere car sharing at its best because it easily gets you from here to there, with room for your friends.
Vancity Buzz got a sneak preview at the amenities Evo offers, and I was able to take one of their Evo cars for a spin last weekend. Being a newbie to the car sharing scene, everything Evo had to offer was brand new to me.
I started my trip by leaving work and walking a block to find the shiny black Toyota Prius I had reserved on my Evo app 30 minutes before. All I had to do to get the trip started was press the “Unlock” button on the app. The doors unlocked and I was on my way.
Even though the majority of users will use the car for short trips within the city, I decided to take the car overnight to explore. Because I am a frequent transit user, taking the Evo car home was a luxurious commute. When I parked my car outside my North Vancouver house for the night, I was itching to wake up and use it for everything it’s worth.
Image: Jill Slattery / Vancity Buzz
Being a recent graduate, I can understand that being able to use one of these cars is a major incentive to go out and explore our area. So many amazing areas around Vancouver are not accessible by transit, and that shouldn’t stop anyone, especially students from out-of-town, from discovering the jaw-dropping vistas just a short drive away.
I decided to spend my Saturday exploring an area of the province I’m ashamed not to know better. Squamish was recently listed by New York Times as a top place to go in 2015, so I thought I would go find out why.
Because having a killer road-trip playlist is always a priority, I packed along my own USB cord and plugged it into the car. Obviously I listened to Taylor Swift the whole way.
Image: Jill Slattery / Vancity Buzz
The drive up to Squamish was beautiful as always. When I got into town, I threw logic out the window and decided to just drive along a road until I found somewhere neat. Following down a gravel road, I ended up at the junction of Squamish River and Howe Sound.
Image: Jill Slattery / Vancity Buzz
I couldn’t help myself from taking a couple majestic photos of the Stawamus Chief and Shannon Falls.
Image: Jill Slattery / Vancity Buzz
Image: Jill Slattery / Vancity Buzz
I admit it, I was chasing waterfalls.
Image: Jill Slattery / Vancity Buzz
Back on the road, I discovered that the car had GPS. Even though I didn’t get too far away from the Sea to Sky Highway, I felt pretty excited about all the places I could go in this car.
Image: Jill Slattery / Vancity Buzz
Making a pit stop at Porteau Cove is a must if you want to grab a photo of Howe Sound in all its glory. From here I watched the sun streak through the clouds and make a misty reflection off the water. My camera didn’t do it justice.
Image: Jill Slattery / Vancity Buzz
Back on the road, I knew where my next stop would be. Heading back into West Vancouver, I veered off on the Cypress Mountain exit and began driving up the hill.
Image: Jill Slattery / Vancity Buzz
Reaching the lookout at about 6 p.m., I got to see the best view of the city just before sunset.
Image: Jill Slattery / Vancity Buzz
Even though I live just a few kilometres away, I rarely have a reason to drive up to this lookout. It was so beautiful I am already having daydreams about coming up in the summer months for a sunset picnic.
Image: Jill Slattery / Vancity Buzz
It was a pretty amazing view.
Image: Jill Slattery / Vancity Buzz
BCAA decided to create Evo Car Share to meet the demands of the next generation of mobility. What makes Evo unique is their flexibility in letting you use their service for almost anything you need. Strap in your bikes or skis onto the roof rack. Pile your friends into the backseat. Load the trunk full of luggage. It’s all possible.
Beyond that, Evo has the environment, the economy and the community in mind. With their fleet of Toyota Prius Hybrids, the environmental footprint is a top priority. They also make sure you only pay for what you use, by the minute, hour or day, and throw in added benefits like gas, insurance and 200km with every trip. To better local communities, Evo donates 100% of your $2 annual ICBC car share fees to local initiatives.
That’s a win-win-win.
Vancity Buzz readers get Free Evo Car Share registration + 30 minutes of free driving. Just use promo code EVO2EVO. But join soon because the offer expires April 30th.