Coming Soon: Zipvans Headed for Boston

Zipcar is throwing its hat into the van rental ring, and just in time for the college moving rush at the end of the spring semester.

The Cambridge-based car sharing company is poised to go head-to-head with U-Haul, Ryder and Penske in Boston as it expands its pilot moving van service from San Francisco to Boston and Washington, according to a press release issued Tuesday.

Boston and D.C. will get 15 zipvans each, starting this week, and the rental costs are reported as $15.75 per hour and $109 per day, including gas and insurance.

U-Haul charges around $20 per day, plus 59 cents per mile. This is not including gas or insurance.

"The strong demand of the Zipvan service in San Francisco has shown us that whether it's a MINI Cooper for a night out on the town or a cargo van to move apartments, members appreciate the ease and convenience of membership in the Zipcar network," said Scott Griffith, chairman and CEO of Zipcar in the release. "We'll continue to evaluate the popularity, economics and network benefits stemming from this offering to determine whether to incorporate it into the Zipcar service across North America."

The new Ford E-150 full-size cargo vans will be added to 10 existing Zipcar locations around the city, including Gainsborough Street in the Fenway neighborhood and at Washington Street and Corey Road in Allston. The closest location for South End residents will be at the Belvedere Street Prudential Center Garage.