The challenge
With the Government confirming a ban on the sale of new Petrol and Diesel vehicles from 2030 as well as the introduction of Low Emission Zones in City Centres, it is of paramount importance to Car Sharing businesses that they find a new way to operate. Car sharing has sharply grown in popularity recently as this method of transport is seen as an innovative method of increasing urban mobility without the need for the user to own their own vehicle.
Q-Park’s solution
Q-Park have perfectly located facilities with car sharing partners having the ability to choose either car parks in the very heart of a city or on the edge of the city centre which can be on the outside of any low emission zone.
This in collaboration with a superior electric charging infrastructure allowing electric car sharing fleets to prosper creating an attractive solution.
The creation of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Hub in the Park Lane facility in Central London is the very best example of how the challenge is met. Within this hub are many different tenants who use space for a variety of different reasons including car sharing. Two such businesses are UFODrive and Virtuo who are leading car sharing operators who utilise fully electric vehicles and are keen to grow. Their area of the car park is fully branded so it is instantly recognisable for customers and they have access to dedicated spaces for charging points so they can always operate efficiently allowing the vehicles to remain topped up.
Customers simply book their vehicle using the partners respective app and when they arrive at the car park, the app can be used to unlock the vehicle. The installations including partner Wi-Fi connections which overcomes the signal challenge in underground car parks.
Access out of the Park Lane Mobility Hub for UFODrive customers is facilitated by using Q-Park’s state of the art new PaSS (Parking as a Smart Service) Automatic Number Plate Recognition System. Simply drive up to the exit barrier and the arm is raised within seconds of reading the number plate and a similar experience takes place when they return the vehicle. This allows for convenient and seamless access to the charging facilities without the risk of losing physical tickets.
Outcome
This scheme is transferable to every car park and every city in the UK so Q-Park can adapt to the ever-changing environment. Car sharing businesses can now easily operate their business from a safe and secure business in the heart of the city whilst supporting the electric revolution. London, they have found the gap in the market that other car sharing businesses have not yet closed and the use of the Park Lane Mobility Hub allows them to take advantage of this.
To find out more about Q-Park's Sustainable Mobility Hubs click here
