With Christmas just around the corner, I would like to highlight a few facts about sustainable mobility. Today, both people and companies seek out holistic mobility concepts that are efficient, sustainable, user-oriented and, most importantly, accessible anywhere, 24/7. Cars still play an important role, of course, but no longer star in a one (wo)man show. Instead, they are part of a complex yet flexible mobility system involving an array of transport options like bikes, shared cars, taxis and public transport.
In the same vein, people’s use of cars nowadays reflects how technology is advancing, how and where people live, and how infrastructure and cities develop. Speaking of cities: they are booming! Over 50% of people worldwide live in urban areas, with another quarter commuting to cities from suburbia. This means more and more people need viable mobility options within a limited space. And they must share the road with goods, which are increasingly moving across local and global borders.
At a time like this, the world needs sustainable transportation options that think beyond the car. These options must consider mobility sharing, personal autonomy and electrification as well as public transport and infrastructure aspects. Without further ado, here are 5 fast facts about sustainable mobility that you should know.
Cities should react to change
Yes, the rumours you’ve heard are true: young people are more interested in their smartphones than in car ownership. If the 20th century was the age of the automobile, we are currently in the post-automobile era – especially millennials. According to the Institute for Mobility Research in Berlin (IFMO), 18 to 30 year-olds have no interest in owning a car. Reasons for this change are greater regard for the environment as well as a shift in needs and priorities. Public transport is the alternative of choice, though carsharing services and UBER offer millennials the flexibility of car-based transportation without the on-going costs of vehicle ownership. Grab a shared vehicle when you need one, take the tube when you don’t. The global carsharing market is expected to grow from over 7 million members to an incredible 36 million by the end of 2025. In response to changing mobility habits, some forward-thinking cities are digitalising their public transit systems and experimenting with on-demand offers. These pioneering cities include London, Shanghai and Singapore.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are key
Carsharing fleets with EVs are crucial to the future of sustainable mobility. Moreover, educating the general public about why EVs are worth it and how we can overcome the biggest hurdles, such as charging infrastructure in the countryside, help drivers adopt EVs with open arms. Companies and individuals alike must rise to the challenge of establishing charging points in urban and rural areas. Achieving this starts, in part, with raising awareness among companies about the advantages of e-mobility. Many enterprises don’t realise that an EV on one charge could cover a majority of routes an employee drives each day. For longer regularly-driven routes, it’s easy to define charging points along the way to ensure the battery life will get you home.
Given the choice, many companies would opt for eco-friendly vehicles
With electric vehicles (EVs) now commonplace on city streets, electric light commercial vehicles (eLCVs) are coming to light as the next frontier in e-mobility. Today, eLCVs tick all the boxes for driving in urban areas. They are quiet, so there’s little to no noise pollution. Stop-and-go driving is a big air pollutant and eLCVs can help keep the air in cities cleaner. Electric range tends to be a non-issue in cities and a growing number are equipped with infrastructure should the need arise. And for companies that prioritise sustainability and a smaller carbon footprint, electric-fuelled LCVs are very attractive.
Businesses benefit from carsharing
For those who haven’t heard the statistic yet: most cars sit in park 90% of the time. Whatever the route is – to the airport, the daily commute or for leisure-time activities at the weekend – a pool of shared company cars is much more cost effective than individual company cars. In the leasing world, we feel the effects of people turning away from private car ownership to embrace shared options. Here, heightened regard for environmental and financial aspects are certainly catalysts. Car manufacturers should view this as a natural shift in mobility habits and behaviours, rather than doomsday.
AlphaFlex offers a combination of all of the above
For companies looking to embrace sustainable mobility without sacrificing flexibility, AlphaFlexis the gold standard. It combines various modes of transportation – such as public transport, cycling and (shared) cars – in one seamless, user-friendly product employees can flexibly use. Each user pays for his/her mobility choices with his/her own mobility budget, consisting of a fixed amount plus an allowance for each kilometre actually travelled for business. This keeps the budget dynamic and able to adapt to users’ mobility needs.
Fleet managers appreciate the insights gleaned from AlphaFlex’s trip and expenses information, which helps keep mobility costs in check. With no admin required – just one invoice is sent and the data automatically exchanges with a company’s payroll system – fleet managers have time to focus on other tasks.
