Peer-to-peer car-sharing cuts council’s travel costs

A new peer-to-peer car sharing scheme is helping one council slash the cost of workers’ transport.
July 14, 2017 Read time: 2 mins

A new peer-to-peer car sharing scheme is helping one council slash the cost of workers’ transport.

Peer-to-peer car sharing company HiyaCar’s QuickStart service uses an encrypted ‘virtual key’ sent to the driver’s mobile phone, allowing them to unlock, start and lock the vehicle they have hired. Vehicle owners fits a device to the diagnostic port in their car which enables it to be unlocked and started when activated by the ‘virtual key’ transmitted from the driver’s mobile phone via Bluetooth.

As the hire finishes, the driver uploads live footage of the vehicle as evidence of its condition, the ‘virtual key’ expires and the vehicle owner receives around 70% of the hire charge. According to HiyaCar, as the owner need not be present for the hand-over, QuickStart enables no-notice, short duration rental and a cost is typically lower than traditional car rental.

The council replaced a pool of four permanent hired vehicles with three cars owned by full-time office-based employees who were enrolled into a ring-fenced version of QuickStart that enables other council employees to use those cars during the day.  The council only pays when the car(s) are being used and previously occupied parking spaces are available for visitors.

HiyaCar checks the vehicle’s, owner’s and driver’s credentials and bespoke insurance covers the cost of any damage or breakdowns. While currently only active in London, the company plans to expand into other cities. 

Related Content

  • Fleet managers ‘likely to opt for brands that offer predictive technologies’
    December 18, 2013
    Fleet management systems (FMS) have an established presence in France, Germany, UK, Italy and Benelux, with 70 per cent of fleet managers claiming familiarity with FMS – 37 per cent are already using it and 33 per cent are testing it. In general, fleet owners display a positive attitude toward FMS, and 35 percent of respondents in a recent Frost & Sullivan survey consider it an absolute necessity. Large fleets are keener to adopt these solutions than small and medium fleets, clearly indicating a lack of awa
    Read More
  • Communications hold key to expanding ITS wireless network expansion
    December 21, 2017
    Wireless transmission of data and control information is making smarter traffic management easier and cheaper to install. It has long been known that connectivity is the key to improving traffic management and many cost-benefit studies prove that investment in new technology can be justified in terms of reduced congestion, shorter travel times, improved safety and air quality. However, many authorities’ cap-ex budgets only cover urgent matters, not improvements, making it difficult, if not impossible to
    Read More
  • Abertis offers breath of fresh air
    December 20, 2022
    The idea of congestion charging zones in cities is well-established. But in Valencia, Spain, the authorities are considering something slightly different – and it has clear implications for the road user charging debate. Adam Hill talks to Christian Barrientos of Abertis Mobility Services
    Read More
  • Car to car communications a step closer
    December 14, 2012
    Vehicle manufacturers have targeted 2015 for the first cars to roll off European assembly lines fitted with operational V2X technology. They and their partners in the Car 2 Car Communications Consortium are confident of meeting the target, reports Jon Masters. Around three years from now vehicles should be appearing in showrooms boasting the capability of communicating with each other. Manufacturers will have started fitting the first proprietary car-to-car driver-aid safety devices and deployment of ‘vehic
    Read More

Highlighted Content