Share
Car sharing, or the self-service vehicle The principle of car sharing consists in using a car on a self-service basis. This service complements other existing means of transport, particularly public transport networks (train, tram, bus, underground).
A brainchild of Quebec-based company
Communauto and invented in 1994, car sharing is now a flourishing phenomenon. In France, small associative or cooperative organisations and young entrepreneurs along with transport industry heavyweights (Veolia, Keolis, Transdev…) and leasing companies (Hertz, Avis in association with Vinci Park) have joined the battle.
All the major cities and urban communities are encouraging this new mode of travel, to the extent of taking orders, like they are in Lyon (France), where car sharing is now being run by the semi-public company Lyon Parc Auto.
The number of users is increasing significantly, despite the fact that only an estimated 10,000 customers have been registered in France as a whole. This figure is over ten times higher in Switzerland, where
Mobility holds sway as Europe’s main car sharing enterprise.
We know that the municipality of Paris, confident in the wake of Vélib’s success, now intends to expand Autolib’, placing 4,000 electric vehicles at the disposal of the inhabitants of Ile-de-France from 2010 onwards. The essential difference between traditional car sharing and the proposed Autolib’ service is as follows. In the first instance, it is mandatory to return the vehicle to the location where it was originally hired, while, in the second, it is possible to return the vehicle to any Autolib' leasing station.
The future of this new type of mobility certainly seems guaranteed in France. Ecological impact studies are reinforcing its credibility. By way of example, in 2006, the Swiss Federal Office of Energy estimated that Mobility’s customers were saving 4.8 million litres of fuel per year. For its part, the first study to be carried out in Quebec in 2007 demonstrated that 11,000 participants in car sharing reduced pollutant atmospheric emissions by 168,000 tonnes of CO2. To put it more simply, a shared car replaces between 8 and ten cars, according to estimates. It’s clear that car sharing has entered the political field with a vengeance.
How does it work? Several car sharing systems exist, but this alternative mode of transport is based on a set of global principles.
RegisteringFirst of all, it is necessary to become a member or subscriber (according to the applicable car sharing association guidelines). Otherwise known as the “pass”, the smart card required to access the car you wish to hire can only be activated once you have submitted a valid driving licence number, proof of residence and bank details.
ReservingReservations can be made online or by telephone, often just a few minutes prior to picking up the vehicle. Reservations are confirmed by e-mail and / or SMS. They can be cancelled or altered.
DrivingIn order to open the doors, members place their passes in front of the visible reader behind the windscreen (usually located on the driver's side). They find the ignition key and possibly the parking ticket inside the vehicle. Prior to driving off, they enter a journey summary in the logbook provided for this purpose.
Returning the vehicleThe vehicle must be returned to its place of hire. The on-board terminal allows staff to check the car’s return time. The car must be clean, and the fuel tank must be at least 1/3 full. Each vehicle also contains a "fuel card" customised to resemble a tanker, which allows drivers to fill up for free at affiliated fuel stations. It is also possible to pay for the fuel and have the amount reimbursed upon presenting the invoice.
PayingMembers pay a monthly fee which allows them access to favourable rates, but it’s also possible to become a member and still get a pass without subscribing.
The prices levied each time the service is used are calculated on the basis of the vehicle type (mini-urban, urban, monospace, utility...), the length of the reservation and the mileage. Rates may also take account of usage times (it is often less expensive or even free to drive at night).
Who is a fan of car sharing?
There is no one typical type of car sharing customer. However, studies carried out by various companies in France, Europe or Quebec have established that the majority of users are around thirty years old (25-34). The amount of senior citizens (55 years and above) is growing most rapidly. Two “car sharers” out of three have completed advanced studies (baccalaureat with a grade exceeding 3), and their average monthly income is around € 2,000. Most customers describe themselves as having a strong "ecological conscience" and don't own their own cars - or, if they do have one, they are prepared to sell it.
Car sharing is an excellent solution for "occasional drivers" (under 10,000 km per year). It allows them to save on maintenance costs, parking, insurance, and even on fuel, as car sharing contracts invariably include "insurance and fuel". Members who use public transport and / or bicycles to complete their urban journeys on a daily basis benefit from particularly appealing prices from short-term “partner” car leasing companies (for weekend breaks or holidays, for instance).
More and more businesses, and even regional communities, as is the case in the cities of Quebec and Gatineau in the province of Quebec, are encouraging their employees and representatives to use car sharing as opposed to company or pool cars.
Car sharing is also a solution used for the purposes of Business Mobility Plans, an approach consisting of favouring alternative modes of transport over individual cars for journeys linked to professional activities.
What is a car pool?
Car pools allow individuals undertaking the same journey to share a vehicle on an occasional or regular basis. This means of transport is not only growing in popularity amongst individuals, particularly for those embarking on week-end breaks or holidays, but also for employees from the same company or companies located on the same site. Car pools are becoming an increasingly important part of Business Mobility Plans and are therefore encouraged by influential public powers like large and medium-sized enterprises.
What are the benefits of car pools? Users travel cheaply, as the fuel costs are shared and the number of cars used is limited, something which reduces both traffic jams and car pollution. This system also reduces the risk of traffic accidents, something which weighs heavily on the social security system.
Car pool usage varies according to country. The phenomenon, which first appeared in the USA during the 1973 fuel crisis as a result of the dynamism of local organisations, didn’t take hold across Europe in general until the 1990s. Major European champions of car pools are the Netherlands, which invested in national information campaigns early on, Germany and Belgium, which has created a national database which companies can use to organise their car pools.
France’s interest in car pools emerged relatively late in the day. A market research survey by Sofres demonstrates that the organisation of car pools emerged during the major strikes of 1995, with home-to-work journeys experiencing an increase from 6-11% in Ile-de-France alone. Why the delay? Firstly, due to the sheer number and diversity of providers and car pool internet sites. And secondly because, in contrast with other countries, local communities were late to support car pool organisations (around 2000 onwards).
Today, even if the car pool seems to have gained ground, only 2% of French citizens have stated that they share a vehicle regularly (out of 70% who state that use their vehicles to get to work).
