Kamloops-based Propel Us readying spring 2027 launch for new car-sharing service

For the past two years, Propel Us has been working toward launching a car share in Kamloops, in conjunction with the new Propolis housing cooperative project on Tranquille Road. Propel Us plans to begin with two electric vehicles that will be available to anyone via an app.

“There’s just things you can’t do without a car,” Pruden said, noting car shares already exist in several other B.C. communities. “Costco runs on the bus are not very effective. It also blocks you off from camping, skiing, hiking and things like that. Even recycling runs.”

“With a car share, you can have access to all these different vehicles and you only pay for them while you’re using them.”

While details are still being worked out, costs at launch expected to be $10 an hour, increasing in 15-minute increments. Pruden said the service will start slow to iron out any issues, but there are plans to expand across the Thompson River to another hub at a yet-to-be-determined location, based on demand – and feedback – from users.

“If you have just one or two cars in a neighbourhood, frequently that car won’t be there when you need it,” Pruden said. “It needs to be dependable so when people sign up, they know they’ll generally have a car when they want it but you can’t have so many cars that they’re sitting idle or there’s not a financial case, and the cost for people becomes higher.”

The City of Kamloops is drafting policies to support the roll out of car shares, in the hopes of creating more walkable and vibrant neighbourhoods. Those policies are also expected to provide directives so developers can build housing with fewer parking stalls – where appropriate – saving potential residents thousands of dollars in costs.

“I was driven to do this because there was a developer who wanted to bring in a car share in Kamloops and there was no policy in place, so they didn’t get anywhere,” Kamloops councillor Nancy Bepple said of her motion that was adopted at last week’s city council meeting.

“Parking is incredibly expensive as it costs between $40,000 and $50,000 for a surface lot and over $100,000 for an underground spot. It also uses up space in buildings that you can use for other things, like more apartments or amenity space.”

While Pruden said Propolis’ first building won’t be ‘affordable’ as first envisioned as it didn’t get a break on parking minimums from the city, he added the overall experience to this point has been a learning process.

“I wouldn’t say [we failed in our goals],” Pruden added, noting he hopes to see other car shares in Kamloops benefit in the long run. “Everything is a process and it just takes time.”

“We are going to demonstrate the model with Propolis. It’s a step forward, just not as big as a step forward as we maybe originally dreamed.”

Pruden also said Propel Us is “not interested” in dominating the car share market in Kamloops, adding they’re hoping to work with any interested partners to deliver the best possible service to residents and visitors in the city.

“We do have some proposals for the city that I think will make a really strong case for car shares in Kamloops and give us an advantage over other communities,” Pruden said. “I hope it’ll be adopted, broadly across B.C. and Canada, and maybe the world.”

by Victor Kaisar

Kamloops-based Propel Us readying spring 2027 launch for new car-sharing service

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