Coastal Carolina University has established a new partnership with Zipcar Inc., a leading car-sharing network, to provide a car-sharing program on campus. The new transportation option is now available for students, faculty and staff ages 18 and older, as well as for members of the local community ages 21 and over.

Coastal Carolina University will initially offer two vehicles, a Chevy Volt PHEV and a Ford Focus Hatchback model, which will be located in a campus lot near Palmetto Hall. Zipcars are available on demand and can be reserved and accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This year, Coastal Carolina University members can join for $25, with rates for Zipcar vehicles on campus starting at $7.50 per hour and $69 per day. After the first year, members will pay an annual membership fee of $35. Gas, insurance, reserved parking spots and up to 180 miles of driving per day are included in Zipcar rates, and cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days. Coastal Carolina University students, faculty and staff can join Zipcar at www.zipcar.com/coastalcarolina.

"The Zipcar program is part of our continuing effort to provide the University community with the latest in services and technology," said Stacie Bowie, CCU Chief Financial Officer. "While this program benefits all eligible members of the campus and surrounding community, it should prove particularly useful to our international students who generally have no means of transportation. The Zipcar is cost-effective, and the electric car option complements our sustainability program."

Participating members with smartphones, including iPhones and Android devices, may download the Zipcar mobile application to make reservations, lock and unlock the vehicles and honk the horn to help locate the vehicle. Reservations can also be made over the phone or on Zipcar's website.

"We are excited to bring Zipcar onto Coastal Carolina University's campus and provide students, faculty and staff with access to a sustainable transportation option that provides fun and freedom, as well as environmental benefits for the campus," said Katelyn Lopresti, general manager for Zipcar University. "Members can use Zipcars to run errands, attend job interviews and internships, or get away for the weekend."

CCU student organizations can participate in the "Students with Drive" grant program sponsored by Zipcar and Ford Motor Company, which provides students with Zipcar membership and driving credit to support student organizations on campus.

Through the Students with Drive grant program, Ford and Zipcar provide $300,000 in grants to be awarded to student organizations at eligible Zipcar colleges and universities. The program runs through April 2014 and will culminate with one student organization being awarded a grand prize of $5,000 in Zipcar driving credit, $10,000 in cash for the student organization to donate to its cause, and $10,000 in cash to be awarded to the student organization's school. For more information and to participate in the program, students can visit the "Students with Drive" tab on Zipcar's University Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ZipcarU.

Zipcar has relationships with more than 300 universities across North America. For more information on how to become a member of Zipcar at Coastal Carolina University, visit www.zipcar.com/coastalcarolina. Additional information and promotions can also being found by following @ZipcarU on Twitter.