An Incentive-Based Solution of Sustainable Mobility for Economic Growth and CO2 Emissions Reduction

Abstract

"Incentivized Sustainable Mobility" is a conceptual business model which involves four stakeholders: citizens, municipalities, commerce and mobility services. A platform named "ISUMO" (Incentivized Sustainable Mobility) provides technological support to this business model, integrating a set of metaservices that unifies the existing ICTs of transportation plus a unique patented QR-based (Quick Response) low-cost charging device for electric vehicles. Essentially, the system tracks and registers citizens' transportation activities (anonymously and voluntarily) and evaluates each through a scoring system while their ecological footprint is calculated. Afterwards, citizens are able to exchange their accumulated points for discount QR coupons, to be redeemed in the associated commerce in order to purchase their products or services. The breakthrough of this business model is that it enhances awareness of sustainable mobility practices, increasing their attractiveness as perceived by the stakeholders with diverse benefits; citizens (and indirectly, the municipalities) initiate a new consumption pattern of "coupons culture" linked to sustainable mobility, the urban economy is stimulated, and the use of mobility services grows, providing a new business opportunity regarding electric vehicles. It is expected that continuous exploration of the model and implementation will contribute to sustainable social and economic development aiming at CO2 emissions reduction, headline targets of the Europe 2020 strategy. OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2015, 7 6120

Improving Sustainable Mobility through Modal Rewarding: The GOOD_GO Smart Platform

“…The ISUMO project has been developed in Jaen (ES); within the project a web platform has been developed, which, as shown in Herrador et al [22], integrates some metaservices (such as Geographical Information Systems), several ICT services and a QR code system connected to electric mobility.…”

Pursuing softer urban mobility behaviors through game-based apps

“…The proposal starts from the consideration that incentives seem to be feasible tools in order of bringing people towards the changing of their urban mobility habits [30,31]. These incentives can be proposed and offered by the city's retail and services network [32], in order of fostering commuters to moving by softer modal splits, such as on foot or by bicycle.…”

Synergies between app-based car-related Shared Mobility Services for the development of more profitable business models

“…What is more, some companies encourage their employees to commute by sharing trips with other employees (Janasz & Schneidewind, 2017). Other essential channels that allow users to access carsharing services are parking areas, and for e-carsharing, charging stations (Shaheen et al, 2012;Hoffmann et al, 2014;Herrador, Carvalho & Feito, 2015;Reiner & Haas, 2015;Remane et al, 2016;Janasz & Schneidewind, 2017).…”

“…Local governments should be involved as stakeholders in defining the operation of shared mobility services in the cities (Firnkorn & Müller, 2012;Cohen & Kietzmann, 2014;Herrador et al, 2015;Sochor, Strömberg & Karlsson, 2015;Watanabe et al, 2017;Janasz & Schneidewind, 2017), since these strategic relationships are both key to providers willing to improve and expand their services, and to cities, willing to benefit from them to solve urban mobility issues. Concretely, Firnkorn and Müller (2012) suggested the development of an integrated policy framework for all cities modes of transportation, regulating three main issues for implementing these service on a large scale: land use as parking for carsharing services; public charging stations to charge electric fleets; and the integration with the public transport system.…”

“…E.g. Chan and Shaheen (2012) and Herrador et al (2015) noted that the use of ridesharing was promoted by the partnership between NuRide, public agencies and others businesses, who together sponsored incentives.…”