科技英语新闻:Paris launches electric car-sharing service

PARIS, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- People come to the French capital will be able to enjoy a new public service by leasing electric cars in the urban region from Sunday.

This car-sharing system is aimed to reduce the number of private cars as well as restrain pollution, according to the Paris municipal government.

The plan, dubbed "the Autolib" system, is similar to already functioning "velib system" which is a large-scale public bicycle sharing system in Paris launched in 2007.

The first experimental stage of the Autolib project is said to last two month with 66 cars at 33 stations around the city.

Costumers can pay between 5 euros and 7 euros (6.7-9.4 U.S. dollars) for every half-hour use or register for a yearly, weekly or 24-hour package with different cost and necessary identity cards, driving licences and an uncashed deposit.

Once fully charged, the four-seated "Bluecar" can reach a top speed of 130 km an hour and has a range of 250 km with a single charge.

In order to encourage short journey rather than long trip around the capital, Paris administration wants to expand the system to a 250-car team by this December, and then to 2,000 by next summer.