regulatory context Archives

Accelerating and Democratizing Carsharing: The Role of Public Administration

April 11, 2024/in regulatory context, sustainable mobility

In this article, we explore the crucial role that public administration can play in accelerating and democratizing carsharing, drawing on concrete measures and relevant examples. This article is inspired by one of the themes discussed at the second edition of the
National Carsharing Day, March 27, 2024
in which Openfleet took part.

The Forfait Mobilités Durables (FMD): A powerful lever to encourage the use of green mobility

February 15, 2024/in regulatory context

The Sustainable Mobility Package (FMD)
^[1]

is one of the flagship measures of the Mobility Orientation Law (LOM) enacted in France on December 24, 2019. This initiative, in force since May 11, 2020, aims to encourage employees to adopt soft mobility solutions for their home-to-work commutes. Read more

Company Mobility Plan in France : how it works

August 21, 2023/in regulatory context

At OpenFleet, we believe in the importance of sustainable mobility to reduce polluting emissions and promote a better quality of life at work. That’s why we believe that the Plan Mobilité Entreprise, of which carsharing can be a part, is a necessary and effective measure for France’s energy transition. In this article, we’ll explain what it is and how to use it.

Mobility Plan: much more than a compulsory procedure

In accordance with Article 51 of the French Energy Transition Law, if a company has more than 100 employees, it is obliged to set up a Mobility Plan. Beyond this obligation, adopting a PDM has many advantages for a company:

Increased attractiveness: By demonstrating commitment to employees’ quality of working life, a company becomes more attractive to talent, making it easier to recruit and retain them.
Concrete CSR approach: a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) approach takes the form of concrete actions in favor of the environment and society.
Improved accessibility: Thanks to a well thought-out PDM, a site can become more accessible, with a more efficient travel plan for employees.

Thinking collectively: an inter-company MDP

The Mobility Plan can be applied between companies in the same business park. They can collaborate and develop an inter-company PDM. This approach provides a comprehensive response to the needs of employees, customers and suppliers passing through the area, while offering relevant and effective solutions.

Key elements of a tailor-made Mobility Plan

The content of a Mobility Plan depends on the specific needs of each company. However, here are the broad outlines on which an effective PDM is built (to be adapted according to the context):

New work practices: Encourage telecommuting up to 2 days a week, adjust schedules to suit peak hours, encourage videoconferencing, etc.
Public transport: Go beyond the mandatory 50% reimbursement of public transport season tickets for employees, offer tickets to new recruits, etc.
Active mobility: for example, encouraging employees to use bicycles to get around town, by providing parking facilities or even a fleet of bicycles.
Shared mobility: this chapter is at the heart of the services offered by OpenFleet. Implementing a company car-sharing service reduces fleet management costs, improves efficiency and optimizes employee travel plans, while reducing CO2 emissions.
Company travel modes with less impact on the environment: for example, with the implementation of a travel policy that favors rail over air whenever possible, electrification of the company car fleet, and also the opening up of its own fleet of vehicles for private use – in addition to business trips.
Logistics optimization: Establish greener logistics processes and draw up less polluting transport specifications for suppliers and partners too. Pool deliveries, establish strict specifications for delivery/loading partners, etc.

Mobility Plan implementation phases:

According to ADEME, it takes between 6 and 18 months to see concrete results between the launch of the approach and the implementation of the plan.

Here’s how to implement your Mobility Plan:

Preparation: Choosing a dedicated team and setting a budget.
Diagnosis: travel flows, employee mobility profiles, environmental and financial impacts of travel.
Action plan with concrete objectives and a precise timetable, which is then forwarded to the local Mobility Organizing Authority (AOM).
Application
Monitoring and assessment

Carsharing: a perfectly integrated approach for SMEs

Car-sharing can play an important role in the implementation of a Company Mobility Plan (PME), offering flexible, economical and environmentally-friendly mobility solutions for employees. Here’s how carsharing can help in the implementation of an SME:

Fleet reduction: Carsharing enables a company to reduce the number of vehicles it owns. Rather than having a fleet of individual vehicles for each employee, car-sharing allows several vehicles to be shared between employees. This can lead to a significant reduction in vehicle maintenance, insurance and purchase costs, while minimizing the company’s carbon footprint.
Encouraging carpooling: Carsharing facilitates carpooling by enabling employees to share a vehicle to get to work or on business trips. This approach promotes the optimal use of resources and reduces the number of vehicles on the road, helping to cut traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.
Flexible mobility: Car-sharing offers employees more flexible mobility. They can reserve a vehicle only when needed, avoiding the need for an individual vehicle that remains unused for a large part of the time. This meets the specific mobility needs of each employee without imposing rigid constraints.
Access to clean, new vehicles: A car-sharing solution like the one offered by OpenFleet is perfectly suited to a fleet of electric, hybrid or low-emission vehicles, contributing to the reduction of air pollution and the adoption of more sustainable mobility practices.
Facilitating business travel: For business trips or off-site meetings, car-sharing gives employees easy access to a vehicle adapted to their needs, without having to deal with the formalities associated with traditional vehicle rental.
Tracking and optimization: Car-sharing platforms provide valuable data on vehicle use, routes taken and CO2 emissions generated. This information enables companies to monitor the environmental impact of their mobility, identify opportunities for optimization and make more informed decisions for their SMEs.

In short, carsharing plays a key role in the implementation of a Corporate Mobility Plan, offering flexible, sustainable and economical travel solutions for employees. This approach cuts costs, improves the efficiency of business travel, reduces the carbon footprint and contributes to more responsible mobility within the company.

At OpenFleet, we are convinced that a well thought-out Mobility Plan is an essential key to reconciling economic performance and respect for the environment. Our team of experts is at your disposal to help you integrate carsharing to make the transition to more responsible mobility a success.

Legal framework for the development of carsharing for local authorities and businesses in France

July 12, 2023/in regulatory context

Faced with the current need to rationalize business travel, car-sharing is emerging as a relevant solution, combining economic efficiency and environmental responsibility. For local authorities and businesses alike, carsharing represents an opportunity that is both profitable and environmentally friendly.

However, its implementation requires a clear understanding of the current legal framework. For this reason, this article aims to shed light on the legal provisions established by the State to stimulate and facilitate the growth of carsharing.

Understanding the legislative framework for carsharing

To support the development of carsharing, the French government has introduced specific laws and regulations to meet the challenges of progressive, sustainable mobility. Understanding these texts is crucial for communities and companies wishing to take advantage of this shared mode of transport.

Carsharing laws and regulations

In France, the Loi d’Orientation des Mobilités (LOM), adopted in 2019, plays a central role in defining the legal framework for carsharing. This law promotes new forms of mobility, including carsharing, by introducing measures to facilitate their implementation and regulate their operation. The key points of this law concern the responsibilities of the players involved, particularly in terms of rental contracts, insurance and civil liability.

Specific guidelines for local authorities and businesses

For local authorities, the LOM has introduced directives enabling them to integrate carsharing into their urban mobility policies. For example, they can create dedicated parking areas for car-sharing vehicles, facilitating accessibility for users and the deployment of vehicle fleets.

Similarly, companies have their own set of guidelines, including the obligation to set up a mobility plan for structures with more than 100 employees on a single site, encouraging the use of car-sharing.

Important legal points to consider

In addition to the general legal provisions, it is important to consider the legal aspects specific to carsharing, such as lease agreements. These must specify the rights and obligations of each party, including conditions of use, rates, hours of availability and responsibilities in the event of an accident. Vehicle insurance is also a key aspect, covering both property damage and personal injury that may occur during the rental period.

In short, a well-defined legislative framework is the key to the successful, long-term deployment of carsharing for local authorities and businesses. It guarantees the protection of users, operators and the public alike, while promoting more sustainable and efficient mobility.

Tax and financial incentives

To stimulate the adoption of carsharing, the government has introduced a number of incentives, including tax breaks and subsidies for local authorities and businesses. These financial incentives can play a key role in reducing carsharing implementation costs and encouraging its development.

Incentives for local authorities

Communities that adopt carsharing can benefit from various incentives, such as tax reductions or tax exemptions linked to the implementation of sustainable mobility policies. In addition, the government offers subsidies to support investment in the infrastructure required for carsharing, such as electric charging stations and dedicated parking facilities.

Financial benefits for companies

For companies, carsharing can also be financially advantageous. Not only does this reduce the cost of purchasing and maintaining a fleet of clean vehicles, but some companies may also benefit from tax credits or subsidies to encourage the use of shared vehicles by their employees.

To sum up, these tax and financial incentives create a favorable environment for communities and businesses wishing to adopt carsharing, easing the initial investment and making the switch to this mode of transport more profitable in the long term. With these measures, the French government is demonstrating its commitment to more sustainable and efficient mobility.

Public-private partnerships

Partnerships between public bodies and private companies play an essential role in promoting carsharing. These collaborations enable us to pool resources, combine expertise and maximize the impact of carsharing.

Advantages of public-private partnerships

Sharing resources and skills between public and private entities is one of the main benefits of these collaborations. Public bodies often provide long-term strategic vision, regulatory support and financial resources, while private companies contribute technical expertise, innovation and the ability to respond rapidly to market developments.

Discover the national carsharing barometer published in 2022.

Examples of successful partnerships in France

In France, several examples illustrate the success of these car-sharing partnerships. Among them,
Open

Fleet
a company specializing in fleet management and shared mobility, has forged relationships with a number of choice partners, including Ornikar, a driver training platform, Total, a major energy player, and the
department of Calvados
.

These collaborations have led to the introduction of innovative car-sharing services, offering users more flexible and economical mobility. These partnerships demonstrate that combining public and private forces can lead to effective, sustainable carsharing solutions.

The responsibilities of local authorities and companies

In order to guarantee the success and sustainability of carsharing, local authorities and companies have specific responsibilities to assume. Their commitment to meeting these legal obligations is essential to ensure the smooth operation of this mode of transport.

The role of local authorities in carsharing

Local authorities have a crucial role to play in facilitating the deployment of carsharing. They are often responsible for creating dedicated parking areas for car-sharing vehicles, improving accessibility to electric charging stations and implementing support policies to encourage businesses and citizens to adopt car-sharing. These measures help to create an environment conducive to the emergence and development of carsharing in their area.

Corporate responsibilities in carsharing

As for companies, they have a responsibility to put in place clear policies and internal procedures to ensure efficient and safe car-sharing. This can include setting booking rules, managing schedules, ensuring user safety and regular maintenance of shared vehicles. By carrying out these tasks, companies play an active part in the growth of carsharing, while respecting the standards and regulations set by the State.

In summary, the legal framework for carsharing, including fiscal and financial incentives, successful public-private partnerships, and the specific responsibilities of the parties involved, offers significant economic and environmental benefits. The successes of Ornikar, Total, and the Calvados département with OpenFleet attest to the potential of carsharing to cut costs, reduce emissions and improve quality of life. Explore how carsharing can benefit your community or company.