Creating a carsharing service

The CODHA is an active residential cooperative in Switzerland’s Romande region. Its founding values are sharing and the protection of the environment. In the context of its efforts to reduce dependency on the car, the cooperative tasked Mobilidée with helping it put in place a carsharing solution designed for its members.

The project includes:

• a pilot phase for the residents of the new eco-district of La Jonction;
• subsequent roll-out to all of the CODHA’s current and future buildings.

Creation of a carsharing service: the preparatory phase

The study contained an initial phase aimed at establishing needs. This included an accessibility study of the new district and a survey that was offered to new residents. These made it possible to establish the dimensions for the system and to determine the functions and modes of use of the future carsharing service.

The survey and the meetings with a panel of residents made it possible to define the primary characteristics of the system, as imagined by the users:

• ease of use and ease of booking;
• unlocking of cars with a smartphone or RFID card;
• ability to reserve cars for long periods, including for the holidays or weekends;
• maintenance, cleaning and breakdowns insured by third parties;
• ability to choose from a range of fees depending on the number of kilometers.

Implementation of the Codhality

Following the study, Mobilidée accompanied the CODHA in the implementation of the system, with:

• the definition of the subscription fees;
• the drawing up of contracts and general terms of use;
• the implementation of a regulation for users.

The choice of vehicles concerned new vehicles, meaning that it was possible to provide a maintenance, repairs and cleaning contract.

The carsharing system will make it possible to reserve cars with ease via a web-based application, and to unlock them using a smartphone or RFID cards. Each user will be able to track the number of kilometers covered and monitor their consumption.

For the manager, the system makes it possible to have an overview of the fleet and, through the analytical tools, to define the needs and future size of the fleet.