Vectos

Project overview

SocialCar was designed to take carpooling to the next level, taking pressure off roads and establishing it as a mainstream transport mode, accepted as the norm in mass transit systems of the future.

At the heart of SocialCar was a real-time Intelligent Transport System (ITS), a multi-lingual system combining public transport data, private data and real time traffic information. It exploited existing services and social networks to provide information and alerts through static and mobile devices. Operating as an app, it provided real-time travel options for public transport and carpooling.

The system was tested in 10 European cities currently offering carpooling services at different levels of maturity. The aim, to develop a system that could work in all cities across Europe; with a clear cost benefit analysis and business model to warrant further investment and expansion.

Our approach

Vectos played a leading role. In addition to identifying the types of potential users, Vectos led the project to define the stakeholders for SocialCar and a common European business strategy for its take-up. We worked with 10 cities to apply and refine the model, before developing a medium to long-term business strategy for commercialising SocialCar on European and World markets.

The app was proven to benefit rural and urban locations alike, multiplying journey options, links to public and sustainable transport and significantly reducing congestion.