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This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

Are hundreds of electric cars sitting in a lot near Paris with failed battery systems now leaking toxins into the ground?

By Sarah Thompson
NO

A social media post showing lines of abandoned cars and saying "Still think we need to go green???" misrepresents the story behind the cars.

The electric cars were part of a pioneering subscription car-sharing system in Paris called Autolib.

The program began in 2011 and was suspended due to financial issues in 2018. The cars were moved out of Paris to a city about 125 miles away, where the local fire department has dictated how the cars should be stored.

All batteries have been removed. Most of the cars were refurbished and have now been sold to private owners. 

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Lead Stories is a fact checking and debunking website at the intersection of big data and journalism that launched in 2015. It scouts for trending stories, images, videos and posts that contain false information in order to fact check them as quickly as possible. It actively monitors the fake-news ecosystem and doesn’t wait for reader tips or reports before getting started on a story.
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