Carsharing and public transport: an alliance for sustainable mobility

/in ,

Car-sharing and public transport are inextricably linked. Together, they are meeting the challenges of sustainable mobility. This article explores the links between these two travel modes, integrating offers, multimodal stations, integrated pricing, awareness campaigns and public-private partnerships. The subject of synergies between carsharing and public transport was one of the topics covered in the round table discussions at France’s National Carsharing Day on March 26, 2024. The initiatives launched by the Metropole of Lyon, which we will mention several times in this article, are a concrete example of these synergies.

Integration of Mobility Offers

Efficiently integrating mobility offers, such as car-sharing and public transport, is a key lever for improving the urban mobility experience and achieving an effective MaaS model. The aim is to create an ecosystem where switching from one mode of transport to another is as simple and seamless as possible,
while reducing individual car use
.

A recent concrete example set up by the Metropole of Lyon: The “
Découvertes mobilités”
program, launched in March 2024 in the 58 communes of the Lyon Metropolitan Area.

For 3 months, the public is invited to try out four alternatives to individual car use: public transport, car-sharing, car-pooling and self-service bicycle hire. The aim is to introduce these fast-growing mobility solutions to those who are still unfamiliar with them. For example, car-sharing and car-pooling are often confused, even though they meet different needs.

Advantages of this approach

  • Easy access: An ‘à la carte’ mobility program available for 3 months.
  • Extended options : Encourages the use of alternative modes of transport to the private car.
  • Coherence : An integrated transport network contributes to better mobility and more sustainable cities.

Multimodal Transfer Stations

Multimodal transfer stations represent a central pillar in the creation of synergies between carsharing and public transport. Designed to facilitate the transition between different modes of transport, these stations transform the urban mobility experience, making it more fluid and integrated.

In Strasbourg, for example, there is
the “Parkings Relais” network
which combines parking and direct access to public transport. Users can park the shared car and immediately take the streetcar to the heart of the city, optimizing their time and reducing the use of individual vehicles.

The cities of Paris and Montreal have set up
Communauto
 car-sharing stations close to public transport stations, encouraging seamless transfer between different modes of transport.

There are other interesting and fairly advanced examples: in the Munich region of Germany, thanks to the

Smarter Together project,
 hhree multimodal e-mobility stations have been built, connecting different individual mobility offers: rental and electric bicycles, shared electric cars (STATTAUTO) and electric vehicle charging stations.

Advantages of Multimodal Transfer Stations :

  1. Intermodality: Allows users to move effortlessly from one mode of transport to another, always reducing the use of a private car.
  2. Accessibility : Positioned at key locations for better coverage of the territory.
  3. Savings : Reduce the costs associated with owning a private car, thanks to complementary services.
  4. Sustainability: Encourages sustainable mobility by limiting the carbon footprint of urban travel.

The success of this type of service relies heavily on collaboration between public and private players to ensure the availability of resources and coordinated implementation. By adopting this integrated approach, the vision of more sustainable, interconnected mobility becomes a reality.

Integrated pricing

Integrated pricing is an important factor in developing synergies between carsharing and public transport. This involves offering advantageous fare formulas when users combine these two modes of transport.

A case in point is the Navigo pass in Paris. This system allows unlimited use of the public transport network (metro, bus, RER, tramway), plus access to car-sharing services(with a regional Autopartage label), through a single subscription. As a result, users can easily switch from one mode of transport to another, optimizing their mobility while benefiting from a significant fare reduction.

The offer
Mobility Discovery
 set up in the 58 communes of the Lyon Metropolitan Area, enables the public to try out four alternatives to the private car over a 3-month period: public transport, car-sharing, car-pooling and self-service bicycles. Subscribing to the offer enables users to benefit from pre-defined rates with each of the partner operators – from TCL (Lyon’s public transport system) to Citiz (car-sharing fleet) to FreeVelo’v.

Unified pricing encourages sustainable mobility by reducing the use of private cars and facilitating access to more environmentally-friendly forms of mobility.

Awareness campaigns

To encourage the simultaneous use of carsharing and public transport, communication and education are very important. Awareness campaigns should aim to educate users about the multiple benefits of such an approach. Public awareness of the environmental, social and other impacts of transport and individual car use seems to have evolved in recent years. It’s important to keep up these efforts. Here are a few elements that can be highlighted: :

  • Savings Savings: Highlight the reduction in personal transport-related expenses, such as vehicle purchase, insurance, maintenance and fuel.
  • Environmental benefits Explain the positive impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and urban pollution.
  • Ease of use To illustrate how easy it is to combine car-sharing and public transport, thanks to integrated ticketing systems and user-friendly mobile applications.

Authorities and operators can organize workshops, distribute brochures or launch digital campaigns. Practical demonstrations or discovery days can be organized to familiarize citizens with these services.

The key to these campaigns is to offer a clear and attractive image of the possible synergies between carsharing and public transport to promote sustainable urban mobility accessible to all.

Digital applications and platforms that provide access to a network of different mobility solutions play a crucial role in promoting integration between different modes of public transport. In fact, they can consolidate information on the different modes of transport available in a given region, enabling users to plan their journeys more efficiently by having access to all available options, including timetables, fares and routes.

Communauto and Transit App are among the first mobile applications to combine public transport and car-sharing on a single digital platform.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the development of synergies between carsharing and public transport represents a key challenge for the advent of sustainable and efficient urban mobility. This combination reduces dependence on the private car while facilitating mobility in congested and polluted urban areas. Car-sharing services complement existing transport networks, helping to diversify modes of transport and improve the quality of life in urban areas.

It is essential that public and private players work together to integrate these forms of mobility into a coherent mobility policy, focusing on the provision of a fleet of adapted vehicles and the establishment of efficient connection platforms. The aim is to create a flexible and accessible mobility service, promoting better mobility for all and sustainable development for our cities. The new challenges of urban mobility call for new mobilities – an approach that is not only desirable but necessary for the future of our urban environments.

Openfleet is proud to contribute to the evolution of more sustainable and efficient transport solutions. By providing cutting-edge car-sharing technology corporate and public fleets, we are contributing to a future where mobility is more accessible, flexible and environmentally friendly. Together, in collaboration with public and private players, we can shape a more pleasant, fluid and sustainable urban landscape for generations to come.

Accelerating and Democratizing Carsharing: The Role of Public Administration

/in ,

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.

Read more

Business travel by car: impact and alternatives

/in

Business travel by car is an unavoidable reality for many companies, but its ecological impact cannot be underestimated.

Personal and company vehicles used for business travel are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

Here are a few crucial facts:

  • CO2 emissions Cars are responsible for a significant proportion of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the transport sector, exacerbating climate change.
  • Air pollution Air pollution: Vehicles emit harmful air pollutants, such as fine particles and nitrogen oxides, which have harmful effects on human health.
  • Use of resources Car manufacturing and maintenance consume natural resources, contributing to environmental degradation.

This is why business travel is now regulated and is the subject of awareness-raising campaigns at the heart of companies’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies.

The Mobility Plan in France (formerly known as the Plan de Déplacement d’Entreprise, or Company Travel Plan) covers a range of measures designed to optimize business travel and raise employee awareness to reduce environmental impact.

Since January 2018, Article 51 of the French Energy Transition Act has made it mandatory for companies with more than 100 employees located in territories covered by a Plan de Déplacements Urbains (PDU), while remaining voluntary for other companies.

At a time when sustainability and social responsibility are at the forefront, optimizing employee mobility and business-related travel is an excellent way for companies to demonstrate their commitment to the environment. This will enable them to save money on their vehicle fleet, raise employee awareness of environmental issues and improve employee satisfaction.

Beyond its ecological benefits, setting up a mobility plan meets the needs of human resources The benefits are many: reduced employee stress, increased productivity, social bonding, improved corporate image in the eyes of employees (attractiveness, brand image, etc.).

What are the alternatives to business travel by car?

Let’s take a look at some of the alternative modes of transport available to companies and employees that can reduce or eliminate the individual use of cars for business travel:

Public transport

Public transport is a well-known option for reducing the carbon footprint of business travel.

The benefits of this mode of travel include reduced CO2 emissions per passenger, less traffic congestion, and the ability to work or relax during the journey. However, their accessibility and punctuality can vary from region to region.

Multimodal transport

Multimodal transport involves combining several modes of transport for a single journey, offering flexibility and reduced overall environmental impact.

For example, you could use a bike to get to a train station, then take a train, and finally use a car-sharing service to reach your final destination.

Car sharing

Car sharing is becoming increasingly popular for business travel, allowing employees to rent a car only when needed.

Benefits include lower CO2 emissions than owning individual cars, savings on maintenance, insurance and parking costs, and greater flexibility in vehicle choice.

Electric and hybrid vehicles offer greater environmental benefits than combustion-powered cars. Companies have a wide choice of mobility professionals offering this type of service.

Car-sharing for the company fleet

For companies with a fleet of vehicles, car sharing is car-sharing is a promising solution.

Employees can reserve a company vehicle when needed, reducing the need to own a personal car.

The benefits include maximized utilization of the company fleet, cost savings and a significant contribution to reduction in CO2 emissions.

Comparing alternatives

To assess the popularity, feasibility and effectiveness of alternative modes of travel to car-based business trips, let’s look at a few criteria:

  • Popular Public transport is well known, car-sharing is in vogue for its flexibility, multimodal transport is gaining in popularity, and corporate fleet car-sharing is gaining in popularity corporate fleet car-sharing is growing but less widespread.
  • Feasibility Feasibility depends on location, infrastructure and company policies. Public transport is often widely available, car-sharing is possible in many cities, multimodal transport requires planning, while corporate fleet car-sharing depends on the will of the company.
  • Environmental efficiency All these alternatives reduce the carbon footprint compared with the private car, but company car-sharing can be particularly effective, as it reduces the number of vehicles on the road.

 

Criteria / Alternatives Public transport Car sharing Multimodal transport Company fleet car-sharing
Popularity High In vogue Gain in popularity Growing, less widespread
Feasibility Often available Possible in many cities Requires planning Depends on the company’s will
Environmental efficiency Reduces carbon footprint Reduces carbon footprint Reduces footprint

carbon

 Particularly efficient

 

Conclusion

Business travel by car has a significant impact on the ecological transition.

However, promising alternatives exist to reduce this impact, ranging from public transport to more recent solutions such as car-sharing and company fleet car-sharing.

The choice of solution will depend on many factors, but it’s crucial to consider these alternatives to contribute to a more sustainable future.

Companies can play a key role in encouraging these more environmentally-friendly practices for their employees, thus contributing to the fight against climate change and to green mobility.

In this context, a car-sharing solution solution like the one proposed by Openfleet contributes to two objectives: decarbonizing a company’s car fleet, and offering a greener alternative to company and personal car travel.

 

Carsharing: a pillar of decarbonization in Low Emission Zones (LEZ)

/in

In a context of pressing climate crisis, Low Emission Zones (LEZs) are proving to be an essential environmental tool. Read more

Corporate carbon footprint in France : the impact of fleets and the role of carsharing

/in

In the context of the energy transition, public authorities in France and several other countries have taken measures to encourage companies to reduce the environmental impact of their activities. Read more

Will the private car disappear?

/in

Reinventing mobility in the age of technology and car-sharing

In a world undergoing profound environmental change, the harmful consequences of massive individual car use have become undeniable. Faced with the urgency of climate change and the need to rethink the way we travel, new technological solutions are emerging, particularly in the field of car-sharing. While the signs of a profound transformation are clear, the question arises: are we at the dawn of the end of the individual car as we know it?

Rethinking mobility to meet environmental challenges

The carbon footprint of transport, mainly attributable to the private car, is a major challenge for the preservation of our planet. In France, based on government data, it is estimated that almost one-sixth of the contribution to climate change is made by these lone vehicles, surpassing even the combined emissions of heavy goods vehicles and commercial vehicles. The need to reduce these polluting emissions has become a priority.

The advent of carsharing: a response to the ecological challenge

Car-sharing is a promising alternative to help solve the problem. Contrary to the traditional idea of the individual car, Car-sharing offers collaborative use of vehicles, enabling several individuals to share the same vehicle according to their needs. Innovative companies such as Getaround, Ouicar, Ubeeqo and Citiz have already embraced this vision, offering carsharing solutions in densely populated urban areas, where parking and congestion issues are particularly pressing.

Numerous examples of the adoption of our OpenFleet carsharing solution in companies and local authorities testify to how carsharing technology – in addition to its environmental benefits – offers more flexible and cost-effective fleet management.

A necessary paradigm shift

However, the success of carsharing is not based on technology alone. It requires a change of mentality and a profound transformation in the way we think about mobility. The evidence is clear: maintaining a model based on the individual car not only hampers efforts to achieve a green transition, but also compromises other aspects of our society, such as urban planning, land use and preservation of the natural environment.

Electric cars are only part of the solution

The transition to electric cars has been widely promoted as a solution for reducing the environmental impact of transport. Although electric vehicles are more environmentally friendly than their internal combustion counterparts, they don’t solve all the problems associated with the private car.. Technological innovation is essential, but it must be supported by a global change in the way we approach mobility.

The transition to sustainable mobility

The real transition to sustainable mobility means diversifying our modes of transport. It’s no longer a question of simply replacing traditional vehicles with electric versions, but of rethinking the entire system. Public transport, cycling, walking and car-sharing need to be integrated into our daily lives to reduce dependence on the private car.

Carsharing as a catalyst for change

Car-sharing is not just about reducing carbon emissions. It paves the way for a more profound transformation of our society. By encouraging the sharing of vehicles, it reduces the number of cars on the road, freeing up valuable urban space currently dedicated to parking. Urban authorities are seizing this opportunity to redevelop public spaces in favor of pedestrians, cyclists and green spaces.

Changing mindsets for a more sustainable future

The road to the end of the private car requires a change in mentality, but also investment in alternative mobility infrastructures. Governments and municipalities have a crucial role to play in creating efficient public transit systems, providing safe bicycle paths and encouraging car-sharing initiatives. French local authorities such as the Calvados department have adopted carsharing to optimize their own vehicle fleets, with very encouraging results.

Conclusion: A future in which carsharing transforms mobility

The end of the individual car as we know it is a possibility. The resulting environmental and social problems have prompted society to look for more sustainable alternatives. Supported by technological advances, car-sharing is emerging as a relevant solution to these challenges. The transition to shared, environmentally-friendly mobility requires a collective paradigm shift, but it also offers the opportunity to rethink the way we get around and create a more sustainable future for generations to come. By rethinking the way we use our cars, we can not only help reduce our environmental impact, but also shape more pleasant, connected and sustainable cities for all.

Energy transition and company car-sharing

/in

In the context of the energy transition, companies need to rethink how their employees travel. One of the most effective and promising solutions is company car-sharing. By promoting this approach, companies can not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also promote more environmentally-friendly mobility. In this article, we highlight the importance of car-sharing as a key solution for the ecological transition of businesses.

Promoting car-sharing to reduce emissions :

The company car-sharing service offers many advantages in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Thanks to the Plan Mobilité Employeur, companies can set up a car-sharing system for employees who don’t need their own vehicle or a private car. Employees can book and use self-service vehicles for their business trips. This limits the number of vehicles on the road and encourages more environmentally-friendly mobility.

By encouraging the shared use of their fleet vehicles, companies play a key role in reducing CO2 emissions linked to business travel. What’s more, the companies encourage more sustainable modes of travel and help reduce traffic congestion, thus improving the quality of life in urban areas. By adopting these practices, companies set an example and inspire others to follow in their footsteps, creating a collective movement towards more environmentally-friendly mobility that is sustainable over the long term.

Cost control and resource optimization :

In addition to its positive environmental impact, company car-sharing offers significant economic advantages. By opting for this system, companies can better control their transport costs. Instead of having a fleet of vehicles assigned to each employee, they can provide a limited number of shared vehicles. For example, instead of allocating one company car per employee, a company can provide access to a reduced fleet that each employee can reserve according to his or her needs, including personal needs. This optimizes the use of resources and reduces vehicle purchase, maintenance and insurance costs. What’s more, car-sharing fleet leasing offers often come in all-inclusive packages, simplifying financial management for companies.

Flexibility and adaptation to employee needs:

Company car-sharing offers employees great flexibility. Each employee can reserve a vehicle from the fleet according to his or her specific needs, whether for an off-site meeting, a customer trip or a visit to a worksite. What’s more, car-sharing makes it possible to adapt to variable working hours. Employees can use the self-service vehicles outside office hours, thus avoiding unused vehicles during non-working periods.

What’s more, carsharing can also help reduce individual costs associated with the purchase, maintenance and insurance of a personal car. As a result, employees can save on car-related expenses while benefiting from convenient, affordable access to a vehicle when needed. This flexibility enhances employee satisfaction and reinforces the company’s image as a modern, environmentally-friendly employer.

Carsharing: a sustainable solution for the future :

In a world where sustainable mobility has become a priority, company car-sharing represents a sustainable solution for the future. By reducing dependence on personal cars and promoting the use of electric vehicles and shared modes of transport, businesses can play a key role in the energy transition. Car-sharing offers environmental, economic and social benefits, helping to reduce CO2 emissions, control transport costs and offer greater flexibility to employees.

In conclusion:

Company car-sharing is emerging as an essential solution for the energy transition. By promoting this approach, companies can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, control their transport costs and offer greater flexibility to their employees. Car-sharing represents a step towards more sustainable mobility, and helps reinforce the company’s image as a responsible employer. By adopting car-sharing, companies are demonstrating their commitment to greater energy efficiency and helping to build a more environmentally-friendly future.

At OpenFleet.com, we provide companies with a car-sharing solution tailored to their needs. Ask our team of experts for a free demo today.

Car-sharing technologies for fleet managers and operators.

OpenFleet

Our solutions

Contact us

25 rue de Ponthieu 75008 PARIS

5455 Avenue de Gaspé, Montreal, QC, H2T 3B3, Canada

contact@openfleet.com