AZE.US
Electric cars in Baku can now be rented almost as easily as electric scooters: through a mobile app, without visiting a rental office or using a physical key.
The user finds the nearest vehicle on a map, pays through the app and unlocks the door directly with a phone.
The service offers several rental formats. A car can be taken by the minute, by the hour, for a full day, for a week or even for a month. The app also includes a separate section allowing car owners to rent out their vehicles.
According to representatives of the service, the company covers paid parking costs during minute-by-minute and hourly rentals. The app is available only to adults with a valid driver’s license.
Student Elvin Yusifbeyli said he previously used electric scooters, but they were not always convenient for longer distances. After learning about electric car rentals on social media, he downloaded the app and decided to try the service.
“I am now going to nearby Sumgayit and rented an electric car. The car is comfortable and convenient, and it does not hurt the pocket,” he said.
For short trips, the minute-based tariff is 15 gapiks per minute. For longer routes, the hourly tariff may be more practical: one hour costs 7 manats. Daily rental is also available for tourists, giving visitors a way to move around the city without relying only on taxis or tour buses.
But the convenience comes with a weak point that has so far received less attention than the tariffs. What happens if a person rents an electric car for a few minutes and immediately hits another vehicle or injures a pedestrian? Who is responsible before the injured side – the driver, the service, the insurance company or all of them together?
In practice, much will depend on how compulsory third-party liability insurance, casco insurance and the rental contract are structured. For the customer, the key details include whether there is a deductible, what penalties apply, when the company can shift costs to the driver and how damage to third parties is handled.
Without transparent rules, car-sharing could quickly turn from a convenient urban service into a source of disputes after the first serious accident.
For Azerbaijan’s urban transport market, this is a new stage. But the success of the service will depend not only on the app and the price of 15 gapiks per minute. It will also depend on how clearly companies explain the rules, driver liability and the real costs users may face if something goes wrong.
AZE.US