Move About - A unique model for sustainable urban transportation mode

Sustainable transportation has gained larger agenda now in many countries and specifically at micro level by local bodies like municipalities. Objective is to reduce the carbon footprint, reduce dependency on fossil fuels and easy maneuvering in city centrals.  

So here is a series of some interesting initiatives and success stories that have and are taking place.

Move About AS – A company based out of Oslo Norway is one of the early movers to adopt Electric car pool programs through a membership programs.  It has deployed Electric car fleet that are parked at various points of the city.  The company has two models where individuals can become members who get access cards to the card. The user can book the car online easily indicting pickup time and duration and visit the closest point. A nominal charge will be made on hourly basis.

In another model, companies can book the fleet and employees on certain routes can pool the car to drive.

What makes this model more tempting and potentially successful is that it offers a zero emission, zero maintenance and zero ownership costs. Also since most of the cities offer substantial benefits for eco-friendly cars like no parking fees (since this is a major cost in city centers of hefty charges) and no congestion tax or emission tax and more over offers good flexibility than a public transport when required. There is no toll charges too! And the insurance is included.

 Move about deploys the Think City cars and presently has a fleet of over 60 cars in Oslo. The operation now is extended to Gothenburg Sweden and Copenhagen Denmark with 5 cars each. Recently IKEA the furniture and home improvement retail giant has donated 5 Fiat 500 EVs to the fleet in Gothenburg to pledge its contribution to Environmental causes. (IKEA has funded a Sweden based battery technology company that is converting Fiat 500 in to Fiat 500 EVs.)

Hope to see this initiative moves many cities and gain popularity.