Digital Hub Mobility tests private car sharing for house communities
The "Hausflotte - Carsharing in house communities" project was implemented as part of the citizen mobility co-innovation format, which works with start-ups, corporate partners, experts from the municipal administration and the Digital Hub Mobility team from UnternehmerTUM to develop and prototype solutions to mobility problems.
The aim of the project was to identify challenges and potentials of private car sharing. In contrast to commercial car sharing, private car sharing is not very widespread. There are often several vehicles per house with different households that could be shared by households. In big cities, many private cars stand around unused for an average of 23 hours a day. Car owners save vehicle costs through private car sharing and the exchange potentially strengthens the togetherness as a house community and leads to less anonymity in the neighbourhood.
Three households in Munich shared one car each over a four-month period from January to May 2023. A household community consisted of at least two households in one residential building. Initially, the households coordinated the use of the car via a digitally shared calendar and SMS, and the car keys were handed over manually. In a second part of the project, the households tested a digital solution developed by the project team together with the start-ups AnyMove and flinkey: Via a smartphone app, the participants could now book the house fleet vehicles and open them digitally, without a physical key.
Results of the experiment
The "Hausflotte" project has shown that non-commercial sharing of private cars is possible, but that further incentives are needed. Trust among the car-sharers and physical proximity are important prerequisites. Many expressed the desire to contribute to the transport transition, to try out new concepts and to reflect on their own car use. According to the participants, the biggest barriers to entry include legal concerns regarding car insurance and taxes, but also the challenge of finding fellow users.
However, the interviews with the participants also show that there is potential and motivation for private car sharing. "I think it would be good if my car was used more. I also like the charitable idea," said participant Carola. Digital solutions in particular made it easier to organise a "home fleet". But scaling up with a self-sustaining business model is difficult under current conditions. Real incentives - for example, due to higher parking costs - are lacking so far.
Participation in summer
For the next stage of the project in the summer, the project team is looking for interested people all over Germany. Anyone who is willing to share their private car in their household or with their neighbours, acquaintances or friends can take part. In addition, an insurance partner and multipliers such as cooperatives will be involved in the future and the offer will be extended beyond cars, for example to cargo bikes.
Partners of the project
Mobilitätsreferat der Landeshauptstadt München, BMW Group, Mini, Stadtwerke München, Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft, IABG, Designit, Klink, AnyMove, flinkey