May
Finding sustainable transport options is more crucial than ever in today’s fast-paced world. One innovative alternative is car sharing. As a well-liked substitute for traditional car ownership, car sharing benefits the environment significantly. This is especially the case as urbanization and traffic congestion rapidly increase. When you car share, it has a beneficial impact on the environment, cost savings and user experience. Here we explore the advantages of car sharing, including reducing carbon emissions and making cities more liveable and sustainable.
Car sharing’s positive impact as an environmentally-friendly and sustainable mode of transport, mean it is quickly becoming popular worldwide. It makes complete sense to car-share in the face of worsening traffic congestion, poor air quality and lack of parking. In Australia, we have programs for car sharing, like Uber Car Share and EV car share services, Ohmie Go. Both are fundamentally altering how we think about mobility and making a major contribution to a cleaner and greener planet.
What is Car sharing?
Car sharing is a service where you can borrow cars for short periods of time – usually by the hour or day. By car sharing you can avoid the burden of owning your own car but still travel around as needed. Car sharing is a flexible and convenient alternative to owning a car. Especially in urban areas where access to public transport is not adequate or feasible for all your trips. Or when you have kids with lots of sporting gear!) Typically, car sharing programmes typically provide access to a fleet of vehicles stationed across a city. Just reserve a car online or by smartphone app, then pick it up or drop off at specified parking.
You can use most care sharing programs generally through a mobile app or website. Reserve a car for the duration you need, and pick it up from a designated parking spot. This makes it really easy to use and the car share is easily accessible. Some local councils in Australia now have specifically labeled parking spots for car share vehicles making it even easier!
GET A FREE INSTALLATION QUOTEHow does Uber Car Share work?
We all know the Uber ride-hailing business. And now, it offers Uber Car Share, which has quickly become one of the most well-known car-sharing programs. With Uber Car Share, you can rent a car for as little as an hour or up to several days. You can choose from a large range of vehicles, including regular cars, SUVs, vans and even electric vehicles. With the Uber app, you just reserve an Uber car share then pick up or drop off from nominated locations.
And Uber Car Share is also very affordable. The hourly rate for Uber Car Share starts at just $5 ph and daily rates are capped per 24 hours. These rates also include insurance, fuel and maintenance. Price will vary depending on the type of car and how long you need to rent it for. However it is incredibly affordable. As payment is performed through the app, there’s no need for cash or credit cards. Fewer cars on the road, saves money for drivers and also lowers carbon footprint.
What about Electric Vehicle Car Sharing?
As the world shifts towards more sustainable transportation options, electric vehicles (EVs) have gained popularity due to their lower carbon emissions and reduced dependence on fossil fuels.
In Australia, car sharing is taking sustainability to the next level with the introduction of Electric Vehicle (EV) car shares services. This includes companies such as Uber Car Share (which was previously known as Car Next Door) and OhMieGo. In addition, another EV car renting company, Evee offers a platform for EV owners to rent out their EVs to other people when they are not using them. Using EVs over fuel vehicles significantly enhances the benefits of car sharing.
These businesses provide a fleet of electric vehicles that may be rented, drastically lowering carbon emissions and fostering a more environmentally friendly environment. It’s a game-changer since it makes sustainable transportation options available while lowering our cities’ carbon impact.
OhMie Go is a new EV car sharing startup that provides residential apartment buildings with a subscription service for electric cars. OhMie Go collaborates with apartment buildings to provide a fleet of electric cars for residents to use. If you’re a resident in one of their buildings, under their program you can access EV chargers at their parking areas to charge your car. The OhMieGo subscription also means that the EVs are charged at the building when they are not being rented out to residents. Your subscription fee to OhMieGo includes insurance, maintenance, and billing fees. The idea behind OhMieGo’s EV car sharing program is to make electric vehicle ownership more accessible to apartment dwellers, where charging infrastructure is frequently restricted.
Benefits of Car Sharing for sustainability for the environment
The positive impact and benefits of car sharing on sustainability and the environment
Car sharing programs like Uber Car Share and OhMie Go have a number of benefits for the environment and for sustainable parking. Here are just a few:
1. Fewer cars on the road
Car sharing programs encourage people to use cars only when they need to, which means there are fewer cars on the road overall. This reduces traffic congestion and air pollution. Car sharing can cut the number of cars on the road by up to 20%, according to a UC Berkeley research paper.
2. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
By encouraging people to use electric vehicles, car sharing programs like OhMie Go can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. This is especially important because transportation is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Improved access to sustainable transportation
Car sharing programs provide an affordable and convenient way for people to access sustainable transportation options like electric vehicles. This can help make sustainable transportation more accessible to a wider range of people.
4. More efficient use of resources
Because car sharing programs allow people to use cars only when they need to, they help to make more efficient use of resources like cars and parking spaces. This can help reduce the need for new parking lots and the environmental impact of building them.
Car sharing programs like Uber Car Share and OhMie Go have a positive impact on sustainability. They do this by reducing the number of cars on the road, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving access to sustainable transportation, and making more efficient use of resources. With the rise of electric vehicles, car sharing programs are becoming even more important as a way to promote sustainable transportation and sustainable parking.
Parking bollards benefit the environment even more
One innovative solution that aligns with car sharing, and a positive impact on sustainability is the use of parking bollards. Parking bollards are sturdy, vertical posts that can be installed in parking spaces to designate specific areas for parking. You can use parking bollards to share one parking spot across multiple users. Just in the same way that car sharing allows a number of drivers to share a single car. l
When you share parking spaces by using parking bollards, where you can book and reserve your parking spot for a reserved time, you are using the parking space more efficiently. Turning them over more frequently by sharing means you need less parking bays. So this reduces the need for new parking lots to be built or for current ones to be expanded. Both of those options have had a large negative impact on the environment.
By sharing parking bays with the use of bollards, you also reduce traffic congestion caused by cars circling searching for available parking bays.. This not only saves time for drivers but also reduces fuel consumption and emissions associated with idling and searching for parking. And with fewer cars on the road, there’s a reduction in carbon emissions, and improvement in air quality in our cities. So we should support these sustainable efforts to minimise waste and maximise use of resources.
A sustainable step in the right direction!
As responsible consumers, let’s take the initiative to support sustainable projects and make decisions that benefit the environment. We can contribute to positive change by carpooling, using vehicle sharing services, or sharing parking spaces using parking bollards in our neighborhoods.. By embracing these practices, we can build a greener, more sustainable future and inspire others to do the same, ultimately creating a better and more sustainable planet for ourselves and future generations.
