Campus community members can no longer rent the electric emission-free Waivecar at Cal State LA until further notice.
The parked vehicles on campus have a note on the windshield stating, “NOTICE: TEMPORARILY OUT OF SERVICE.” There is a second note tapped on the parking sign stating, “ATTENTION!! WAIVECAR VEHICLES WILL BE TEMPORARILY OUT OF SERVICE DUE TO INSURANCE SWITCH.”
The vehicles were put on campus as part of Cal State LA’s practice of energy efficiency and sustainability. The Waivecars introduce an alternative option of transportation for those who are looking to drive host distances from campus.
“I found that Waivecars are convenient and affordable,” said Lilly Lau, a student who uses the vehicles to make short trips around campus. “As a bus commuter, I don’t have to worry about school parking, and it gives me the convenience and independence of doing small errands around Los Angeles during my break time.”
There are a few rules one must follow in order to rent a Waivecar: Drivers must be 21 years or older, have a clean driving record, be able to put a credit card on file and drive within a 30 mile radius.
Although the first two hours are free, every hour after that is $5.99.
Last year, the zero-emission vehicle shared program won the university a statewide award . The award was given to the Parking and Transportation Services and Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility for “launching the largest shared mobility program with hydrogen vehicles.”
Carmen Gachupin, director of Parking and Transportation Services, explained the insurance on the vehicles are expired and since Waivecars are not university-owned, there is no information on what insurance Waivecar will be pursuing.
“Waivecar is working on obtaining a new carrier, however it is uncertain as to when that will take place,” said Gachupin.
Finding out how many students will be affected by this is out of Gachupin’s control. “These programs’ use is tracked by the app that operates the car-sharing program, I do not have a count of how many members this temporary suspension is impacting.”
The transportation services expect to have more information on the status of Waivecar by early February, according to Gachupin.
