All about carpooling

Sharing a sustainable way of life

The choice of transport method can have a significant impact on the economy, reducing or increasing travel costs, and also on the environment, reducing or increasing vehicular traffic and emissions.

What is carpooling?

Carpooling consists of several people who are travelling in the same direction sharing a single vehicle to carry out their journey together.

Carpooling is presented as a sustainable and economically-efficient solution in the field of shared mobility. It contributes to reducing the environmental impact and decongesting traffic, while also promoting solidarity and interaction between people who opt for this kind of transport.

In general, the vehicle used in carpooling belongs to one of the participants, who acts as the driver and shares the available seats with other passengers. The driver receives a financial contribution from the passengers to cover expenses such as fuel and maintenance.

Carpooling encompasses several options to suit the preferences and circumstances of the participants. In some carpooling groups, drivers take turns driving, while in others, a single participant is the driver and owner of the shared vehicle, with the other passengers covering the costs.

A woman getting into a car for carpooling with other passengers

In the labor environment, some companies encourage carpooling between work colleagues as an effective way of shared mobility where incentives such as preferential parking or financial rewards are offered.

Moreover, digital technological platforms facilitate the organization and coordination of carpooling, allowing people to easily find travel companions and keep track of shared expenses.

In some urban areas, there are shared carpooling services between strangers, where users can share a journey with other people who are going in a similar direction. These services usually operate through online platforms that allow users to connect and coordinate their journeys in the way that suits them most.

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Benefits of carpooling

Carpooling stands out as a sustainable option, which can turn out to be financially beneficial both for individual users, as it reduces their transport costs, and for companies, as they can promote a more efficient mobility of their employees, which, in some cases, can translate into benefits such as reduced traffic and parking at the company's facilities.

Its most significant benefits are:

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Pollution reduction

Sharing vehicles reduces the amount of cars on the road, which reduces emissions, contributing to the improvement of air quality and reducing the carbon footprint.

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Reduction in traffic congestion

By reducing the number of cars on the road, traffic congestion is also reduced, resulting in faster journeys and less stress for drivers.

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Promotes social interaction

This system promotes interaction between people who share journeys, which can strengthen social relations and create bonds between work colleagues or travel companions.

Financial savings

Participants share transport costs, which allows them to reduce their expenses.

Less parking demand

Carpooling helps to alleviate the demand for parking spaces in urban areas.

Happy young man talking to a woman in a car with whom he is going to share a vehicle

Differences between carsharing and carpooling

Both options share the aim of reducing the number of cars on the road and improving efficiency in the use of resources available for urban mobility. The main difference between carpooling and carsharing lies in the ownership of the vehicle, the form of organization, and associated costs.

Vehicle ownership

Carpooling: the vehicle usually belongs to one of the participants, who acts as the driver and shares the available seats with other passengers. It doesn't always involve companies or service platforms.

Carsharing: it doesn't imply individual vehicle ownership. Users have access to a shared fleet of cars available for rent according to their needs.
Duration

Carpooling: it is perfect for short and medium journeys. The duration tends to be more limited and is adapted to the routes of participants.

Carsharing: it allows users to rent a vehicle for a few hours or several days, adapting to their specific needs.
Costs

Carpooling: the costs are divided between participants.

Carsharing: users pay a rate for the usage time and, sometimes, for the distance travelled.
Flexibility
Both options offer flexibility, but in a different manner.

Carpooling: it stands out for its adaptability to specific routes and informal coordination between participants.

Carsharing: it provides flexibility in the duration of the rental and access to a variety of vehicle options.

Wible: a shared mobility initiative

Wible is a carsharing initiative that operates in the Community of Madrid, the result of the collaboration between Kia Motors and Repsol. This platform stands out for its efficient electric vehicle fleet.

Wible, specializing in 100% electric, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid vehicles, has the potential to contribute to the reduction of emissions and promote sustainable mobility in urban areas. The platform is managed through a mobile application that facilitates the reservation and use of vehicles, offering users flexibility, ease of contracting, and freedom of movement.