Hourcar plans Twin Cities carshare shutdown

Hourcar, the nonprofit that operates the Evie car-sharing service in Minneapolis and St. Paul, plans to end operations Oct. 15 after its board concluded it could not close a major budget shortfall. CEO Amanda LaGrange attributed the funding gap to sharply higher vehicle insurance costs and reduced federal and foundation support; $475,000 from the two cities was not enough to cover the remaining need. The shutdown will end Evie service as well, canceling reservations made for after Oct. 15, despite the network’s long history and substantial use. Members are organizing to try to save the service, but Hourcar says bringing vehicles back after they are removed would be prohibitively costly.