On campus hourly car rentals

Zipcar, a car-sharing company that offers self-service on-demand cars by the hour or day, is offering cars on several college campuses.

The idea is that people who have most of their needs in a centrally located area (like an urban center) don't need cars most of the time. In the case of college towns, they are often rural towns where students need a car to get to college, carry stuff maybe get to a store once a week, but they don't need one to commute or for daily activities. Good public transportation isn't always available in small college towns.

"Stored" cars on and around a college campus is often a parking nightmare for local communities. York City issues permits for the streets in neighborhoods around York College to help keep peace with residents. The colleges involved are asking for lower impact car like a Prius, which might also take a few oil burning/dripping, duct tape and bailing wire college cars out of the equation.

Bates College is the first Maine location for Zipcar. Starting this week, it’s offering a pair of Toyota Prius automobiles for $7 an hour.

Assistant Dean of Students Keith Tannenbaum predicts the cars will ease parking problems and cut down on pollution, in addition to helping students get around.

Students, faculty or community members can become a member for $35, reserve a car online and use their magnetized membership card to unlock the vehicle. Gas, insurance and a prime parking spot on the campus are included. news.bostonherald.com

Another program:Middlebury College

Zipcar will provide cars on campus to more than 50 Universities prnewswire.com

I have just one question about the program's profit model:

New rental cars...college students?