"35% of European citizens live in peri-urban areas. This population faces major mobility challenges, and the car is by far the most frequently mean of transport in the outskirts of the city – for those who can afford it. Municipalities and local authorities are well aware of the mobility plights in these special areas, however the low density of population drives up exponentially the costs of a classic transport network, not adapted to the special patterns of peri-urban mobility. The aim of Ecov is to become the first mean of transport in rural and peri-urban areas and the missing link between mass transport and low density areas. The SME is offerng local authorities a cost-effective mean of transportation and a mobility system adapted to the needs of their citizens.
Increasing occupancy rate in private cars may lead to major improvement in terms of GHG emissions, energy saving and oil import reduction. This optimisation of current existing mobility system may be as much powerful as technology improvements like electrification of cars stock for example. In terms of social and economic impact, allowing mobility for all is vital to increase access to opportunities (for job-searching, education, leisure, health etc.). Carpooling may potentialy have major role to play to fight gender or social inequalities, and to increase inclusiveness. Indeed, carpooling is only a better use of existing system: it is a no-regret policy.
However, up to now, carpooling has only been successfull for long-distance trips. For day to day life, which represents the major part of mobility, carpooling solutions are non-flexible and unadapted to concrete constraints. This is why Ecov is innovating with its carpooling concept especially designed for daily, short trips in peri-urban areas: the ""connected carpooling stations"". A carpooling station is accessible to passengers where they can enter their destination into the terminal (no smartphone required), which then transmits a signal to nearby smartphone apps, nearby connected vehicles and last but not least to nearby LED sign, conveniently placed on the roadside. Thus, reading the LED panels on the roadside, drivers are informed of the real-time demand ahead of the station and can chose to stop. For the passenger, the experience is similar to public transport.
Thanks to these carpooling stations, new lines of mass transit (carpool-lines) can be created in few weeks, where bus-lines would not have been even thinkable. By ""upgrading"" the road, we transform private cars into public transport.
Our company sets up the global solution, from hardware to software, including project management, communication and marketing etc. We have great potential of uptake in France and three pilot projects (from 2 to 20-station wide) are currently being deployed in the peri-urban area. We are now looking for potential abroad opportunities;
"
