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Shared E-Fleet: Cloud platform for cross-company e-car sharing

Electromobility is the basis for an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient mobility concept within the company. The integration of a sharing model is worthwhile in order to increase the utilization of e-vehicles and boost profitability. The aim of the Shared E-Fleet project was therefore to develop a modern booking platform for the use of commercial e-vehicle fleets across company boundaries. The model, which was successfully tested in business parks and at the Magdeburg city administration, combined state-of-the-art technology with intelligent fleet and energy supply systems and proves that e-fleets can be organized in an economically sustainable way with the right software.

E-car sharing in a business environment? A good combination

A Fraunhofer IAO survey of 30 participating companies revealed that a sharing model with electric vehicles is very suitable for company car fleets: The idle times of company cars were estimated at over 60% to over 80% (very low utilization), no or only a small amount of special equipment is usually required for business trips (sharing possible) and the distances of business trips are often less than 50 km (electric vehicles easy to use). E-car sharing across several companies and organizations therefore offers the opportunity to increase the profitability of e-fleets.

Advantages of e-car sharing in the Technology Park

For the real estate operator

For the tenants and users

The economic use of e-mobility is the most important argument for its rapid spread,” says Frank Meißner, project manager at consortium leader Carano Software Solutions. “Even before the complexity of use, this is the biggest obstacle for companies. Both factors are closely interlinked. We have integrated the various complex sub-functions in such a way that users perceive them as one application.

Frank Meißner, Project Manager

Period

December 2014 until December 2017

Result

Development of a cloud platform incl. vehicle opening with app
Intelligent deployment planning led to 20% less CO2 and 10% cost reduction

Destination

Design and implementation of an integrated, cloud-based ICT solution for the intelligent operation of shared electric vehicle fleets

Economic efficiency of e-car sharing

The software solution used in the shared e-fleet projects has been continuously developed. Maintenance-related downtimes have also been steadily reduced over the course of the project and a utilization rate of 2.5 to almost 3 trips per day has been achieved. This is necessary in order to achieve sufficient mileage to compensate for the high purchase price of the e-vehicles. A profitability analysis of the vehicle fleet showed that the BMW i3s used in the Shared E-fleet project had the highest TCO (total cost of ownership) at around €75,000 over four years. This is around 20% more than the existing diesel vehicles and 30% more than the existing petrol vehicles. However, it is interesting to look at the all-electric vehicle types with lower acquisition costs. The total costs of these vehicle types were generally lower than the total costs of vehicles with conventional combustion engines. This leads to the conclusion that the use of such vehicle types can lead to cost savings in the medium term.

Results of the Shared E-Fleet project

The shared use of e-fleets requires suitable ICT solutions to manage the large volume of data and processes. These were developed and tested in the Shared E-Fleet project.

Who gets which vehicle - booking and dynamic deployment planning: availability, load status and delays were taken into account in order to increase capacity utilization. Both CO2 emissions and costs have been reduced.
Which vehicle charges when and how - Intelligent energy management: The control system takes bookings into account, charges when the electricity price is favorable, uses self-generated electricity where possible, and avoids load peaks so as not to overload the grid.
Vehicle access without a key - digital app: vehicle and charging station are unlocked via smartphone app. This means that a "doorman" is no longer required to issue keys.
High user satisfaction - from skepticism to enthusiasm: 100% of participants have a more positive attitude towards electric mobility after the model tests. Initial concerns about charging times and range have been dispelled. Drivers still want greater ranges and more charging options.

Project partner

The findings from the Shared E-Fleet project have been incorporated into our CaranoCloud booking platform. With our car sharing software, you have the complete package: booking, scheduling and vehicle access.

Outlook from e-car sharing to holistic mobility management

The Shared E-Fleet project networks various IT solutions and components to create a mobility system and integrates fleet management, energy management and traffic data in a cloud solution. The integration of public transport for intermodal journeys, partner models for the use and billing of other fleets and the simulation and analysis of demand forecasts were also investigated for future mobility management.

Sustainability and cost-effectiveness do not have to be opposites, as the Shared E-Fleet project has shown.
For e-car sharing to be successful, vehicle and charging station manufacturers must develop standards for interfaces, access authorizations, charging control and access to live operating data. For the further spread of electromobility, politicians must remove legal and tax barriers and create incentives for charging at home. The consortium recommends that companies, authorities and other organizations add electric vehicles to their fleets and test the benefits – with suitable IT solutions.

Practice Guide Shared E-Fleet

The practical guide Shared E-Fleets shows how e-vehicles can be shared across several companies and organizations and which IT solutions are required for this. It is aimed at companies, authorities, municipal administrations and fleet managers.

You can download the practical guide “Shared E-Fleet” from the IAO store.

Our other research projects

Optimize energy costs through on-demand charging of the e-fleet

Smart integration of e-vehicles into the fleet

Emission-free thanks to shared use of vehicles and charging infrastructure

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