Smart news ways to car share

it will be early next year when the first results are published on the success of a smart new car sharing system around Paris, but the early signs are that the network is going to work well, at least on a small, localised scale. The project, backed by SNCF Transilien, the French state railway company’s operator in the wider Paris region, uses both live station displays and a website to give train users real time information on car sharing possibilities.

Currently it’s only being tested at a station in the commuter town of Houdan in the Yvelines department, but if the trial period, which ends in January, proves positive then the project will be widened in scope to the whole Paris region.

As usual, the project relies on smart digital technology to function. The display panels are in the car park and on the platform of the station, showing both car sharing on offer and travellers seeking a lift. A flashcode system means that users use their phones to photograph the code and then are able to contact fellow car sharers by phone, text or email. Houdan was selected for the test because it’s already a popular spot for car-sharing, with over 30 regular commuters using the station signed up for car sharing programmes.

The whole project is being run from behind the scenes by Green Cove, a car-sharing firm that launches the 123envoiture.com website, the first car-sharing site in France. The site now has 700,000 users.