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George Webb, Business Development Consultant at Hiyacar, shares how the UK’s leading keyless pool car-sharing app is being used by the public sector to improve efficiency, reduce costs and help towards the government’s target of lowering carbon emissions by 68% by 2030.
As of May 2024, public sector borrowing reached £33.5 billion for the financial year to date, marking it the fourth highest level for this period since 1993. The incoming government faces a significant goal for borrowing to fall each year, reaching £39.4 billion by 2028-29 and achieving a 68% cut in carbon emissions by 2030.
For the government to meet these ambitious targets in the face of real world instability and a complicated macro economic climate, there needs to be a multitude of initiatives that contribute to both cost and emission reduction.
Hiyacar, the UK’s leading keyless pool car-sharing app, is looking to play its part in providing technology to help the public sector meet these targets. This includes securing close partnerships with NHS Trusts, local and central government.
The Department for Transport highlighted the benefits of car sharing initiatives in 2022. This included a report that projected that increasing vehicle occupancy by 1% annually from 2022 to 2030 could remove 1.25 million cars from the roads and cut CO2 emissions by 1.25 metric tons.
The NHS, which boasts the UK’s second-largest fleet, has already committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040 through its Net Zero Travel and Transport Strategy. Local governments are also looking at policies to decarbonise public transport, establish EV charging points, and promote sustainable housing and infrastructure.
Hiyacar’s technology can contribute significantly in supporting these ambitious targets and advancing sustainable cost saving practices across the public sector. Here’s how:
1. Build Green Pool Fleets to Cut Grey Mileage and Lower Costs
Hiyacar partnered with the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Trust and reduced emissions by 18.91 tonnes of CO2 and saved £53,000 annually through Hiyacar’s keyless access and real-time tracking technology. Transferring grey miles travelled in employees’ own vehicles to an efficient green pool fleet saves money by reducing pence per mile payments, taxi fares and daily hires. There is also an associated reduction in emissions as it is estimated that the average employee vehicle is an eight year old conventionally powered car, whereas a pool vehicle is likely to be a less than three year old EV or Hybrid. Add to this that employees are more likely to use public transport to and from work if they can pick up a pool car and you can see the environmental benefits stacking up.
2. Accelerate the EV Revolution to Reduce Emissions
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is working with Hiaycar to launch EV car clubs and provide staff with cost-saving opportunities and convenient access to nearby EVs. In the first two months, CO2 emissions were reduced by 135kg, with projections to save half a tonne from Nov 23 to Nov 24. Despite a five-hour daily booking limit, the program achieved a successful 52.4% utilisation rate. Car sharing optimises vehicle use, reducing overall emissions and improving air quality, while offering the latest EV models to promote sustainable transportation solutions.
3. Generate Revenue Through Fleet Rentals
Local Authorities are particularly interested in allowing their pool vehicles to be rented outside normal daily working hours and weekends.
This action has two positive impacts; it improves the mobility options for the councils rate payers, many of whom face affordability issues whilst also driving revenue to offset the cost of providing the vehicle. Hiyacar’s own statistics show that weekends and holidays are hot spots for car sharing rentals which gives circa 170 high probability opportunities for additional revenue per year. This rental opportunity at £50 per day could recover circa £8,000 per vehicle annually optimising budget allocation and lessening the financial burden on taxpayers.
The Hiyacar platforms record data such as mileage, duration of use, and routes taken for each vehicle bookings to help track efficiently and in accordance with operational needs. Importantly, information is available on driving standards and the driving style at the time of critical events like accidents.
4. Reduce Vehicle Numbers on the Road
Hiyacar recently launched Closed Loop Car Sharing in Buxton and Hope Valley. This initiative promotes community-based sustainable travel solutions by enabling residents to share cars exclusively within the area, thereby reducing individual car ownership. This approach aims to alleviate traffic congestion, optimise parking space utilisation, while repurposing urban space for more sustainable uses.
Hiyacar is also working with several sustainable property development schemes to promote a greener lifestyle, which benefits both the residents and the property developers.
5 . Save colleagues money and allow them to travel saver and cleaner
A recent study by the climate charity ‘Possible’, revealed that many low-paid rural care workers spend up to £150 per month on petrol alone. The charity is urging ministers to consider implementing a social leasing scheme for electric vehicles, aiming to help these workers save significant amounts of money and to lower emissions.
Car sharing presents public sector workers with an opportunity to save money and alleviate stress amidst the current cost-of-living crisis. Hiyacar is helping to ease the financial burdens associated with owning individual vehicles such as purchasing, financing, insurance, maintenance, and depreciation.
Workers can quickly and easily reserve vehicles through mobile apps, saving time compared to the traditional vehicle rental processes and it reduces the need for long-term parking solutions, which can be costly, especially in urban areas. Workers are also more likely to use public transport to/from work if mobility options are provided at key locations.
Integrating car sharing into transportation and infrastructure strategies offers a practical and sustainable solution to meet mobility needs while achieving significant cost savings and promoting environmental stewardship.
The business case for digital disruption in pool vehicle management and car sharing is proven. Greater adoption by the public sector will guarantee lower costs and emissions.
More Information:
Sources:
Public sector borrowing
Debt reduction targets
NHS net zero travel and transport strategy
Local government targets
Department for Transport
Possible charity