Traffic and public transport, Car sharing | Threatens the future of car sharing in the city

We share the visions to Oslo municipality, the city council and the Urban Environment Agency about a greener, more sustainable city. We want to be part of the solution to climate challenges by offering attractive car sharing services as a real alternative to owning your own car. But for this to continue to be possible, we must have a regulatory framework that actually supports car sharing, not opposes it.

Oslo Venstre has been clear about its support for car sharing as an important measure to reduce car traffic in the city. This is a policy we fully support. But the proposal for regulations for parking permits for car sharing in Oslo municipality, which the city council has inherited from its predecessor, gives cause for concern.

At Hertz, we have been involved in car sharing since 2008. Through research projects, we have gained good insight into how car sharing can help to delay car purchases and reduce the need to own a car.

Studies also show how the use of car sharing can help reduce traffic, greenhouse gas emissions and reduce pressure on the city’s car parks. The research shows that one shared car in station-based car sharing reduces the need for 5-10 privately owned cars.

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Nobody rents a car to charge

The proposal for a 100 percent share of electric cars, without the provision of charging points, will dramatically reduce the possibility of commercially operating car sharing. We are positive about offering only zero-emission vehicles, but then we must have charging infrastructure available. No one rents a car to charge.

The expectation is that the shared car is fully charged when picked up, in the same way as one expects the private car to be fully charged for a long trip. Therefore, there must be charging stations in every car park for electric cars.

The requirement for a maximum four-day reservation is also problematic. This will make car sharing less attractive as an alternative to owning a car. Large parts of the market need a car for longer periods, such as on holidays. If more people are to choose car sharing over their own car, we must offer services that meet people’s actual needs.

We at the Car Sharing Council have solid market data on what it takes for Oslo’s residents to choose car sharing, as well as insight into which market conditions provide sustainable business models. Transport council Marit Vea, we ask you to listen to us who work with car sharing every day.

Venstre led the way in introducing the success of electric cars in Oslo and in Norway. We ask Vea to take these concerns seriously and work towards a smarter car sharing policy. We want to be part of the solution to free up space in our city.

Read more comments, debate posts and Oslo stories on Avisa Oslo’s debate page Oslodebatten

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