The world's largest car sharing network rolled into Huntsville on Tuesday to provide "wheels when you want them" to residents, businesses, visitors and students.

Zipcar, a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group founded in 2000, is now offering six vehicles for reservation by the hour or day across from Belk Hudson Lofts, Huntsville City Hall and Artisan at Twickenham Square near Huntsville Hospital.

The Zipcar fleet features several types of vehicles, including a Honda CR-V named "Blossomwood," a Honda Civic called "Tommy" for Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, and a Subaru Imprez dubbed "Monte Sano." Each reservation comes with gasoline, insurance, maintenance and roadside service, up to 180 miles per day and a designated parking spot for pickup and return.

Katelyn Chesley, spokeswoman for Zipcar in Boston, said the company already has seven vehicles in operation at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, bringing the total number of Zipcars in Alabama to 13.

Huge growth in Tuscaloosa

"We launched at the University of Alabama in 2009 and we saw huge growth in demand from students on campus," she said. "We're a company that likes to start and test with a few vehicles and then grow outward from there, so after the success we saw in Tuscaloosa, we wanted to expand off-campus into the cities.

"Huntsville was a great choice for that with all the growing transportation options that are here," she said.

The Huntsville City Council approved two ordinances in February to allow companies like Uber, Lyft and Zipcar to operate within the city limits. Uber, which connects drivers with riders via cell phone app, went live in Huntsville on March 4.

Zipcar held a news conference Tuesday outside the Downtown Huntsville, Inc. headquarters on Washington Street with DHI CEO Chad Emerson and Mayor Battle. Vilaire Lazard, Zipcar general manager, said each Zipcar takes up to 15 privately-owned vehicles off the road, reducing congestion and supporting environmental sustainability.

"Our members drive less and support active transit more, reducing personal CO2 emissions on average by 1,600 pounds per year," he said.

How does it work?

Customers can use the service by purchasing a membership and making a reservation on Zipcar's mobile app, website or by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Chesley said membership ranges from $7 per month to $70 per year, while hourly rates start at $7.50 per hour and $69 per day.

Zipcar also has a Zipcar for Business program, offering discounted driving rates Monday through Friday. A Huntsville discount is available to the first 100 people who sign up here.

Once a reservation is secured, members use a keyless entry card called a "Zipcard" to unlock the door and drive. Customers can choose the make, model, type and color of the vehicle they want.

"We hope to continue to grow our relationship here in the city and to continue to expand, bringing more cars to more people in places throughout Huntsville," Lazard said.

Here's a video on how Zipcar works:

Changing transportation ecosystem

Battle said he is open to the idea of someday using Zipcars for city business.

"Instead of each department having to have a car, you could register in on your iPhone your Zipcar and the times that you need it, jump in your Zipcar, go out and come back," he said. "It saves the city of Huntsville the capital costs of buying a car, the fleet and maintenance costs of keeping it up, and just ties it down to exactly the times that we need it. What a great way to work."

Emerson said Zipcar also makes it feasible for a couple to live in downtown Huntsville with only one car.

"Parking's always at a premium," she said. "For instance, I live about a mile from my office. I could have my wife drop me off or on nice days, I could ride my bicycle, and know that if a meeting came up in Research Park or on the Arsenal, I could walk out and hop in a Zipcar, take it out there and go back."