If you’re involved in real estate or property management, chances are you’ve heard of putting shared mobility in buildings. Perhaps you think it’s a passing trend, or you don’t think it’s appropriate for your developments yet, or maybe you see it for what it is - the next big property amenity. 

Whether you’re a developer, owner, or manager of strata buildings, hotels, office buildings, or other properties, this guide is for you. We’ll demystify shared mobility, offer practical steps for implementation, and make the business case for why forward-thinking property teams should consider implementing shared vehicles today. 

What is shared mobility? 

Shared mobility is a catchall for shared transportation resources and services between several people. It involves the shared use of a vehicle within a community and commonly allows users to have access on-demand. 

Examples of shared mobility services are ride-hailing apps like Uber and Didi where you share a ride; micro-mobility services like Lime and Beam where you share a bike or scooter; and car-share services like GoGet and Popcar where you share a car. 

These services aim to reduce individual car ownership and the number of vehicles on the road and in our communities. 

How? By offering more convenient, more attractive, and more cost-effective solutions to owning our own car. 

When these different modes of travel are integrated and available to access within one application, we enter the realms of true mobility-as-a-service. 

Why should I provide shared mobility at my property?

For property owners, providing shared vehicles within your development for your community represents the next frontier of lifestyle amenities. A selection of premium cars, bikes and scooters available on-demand is a game-changer for forward-thinking property owners.

Here are some of the top benefits from offering shared vehicles at properties:

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1. Adds value to your product.

Mobility is a cost-neutral gift that adds a valuable amenity to your development - your residents get all the perks of owning a car without the hassle of payments, insurance, maintenance, and cleaning. By enabling this reduced cost of living, you are able to improve the value of your offering, whether that is selling apartments, leasing office space or renting hotel rooms.

2. Differentiates your property.

Stand out to the new generation of home buyers with luxury 21st-century amenities. It’s time to go beyond the traditional pool, gym, concierge, and rooftop garden and provide a service that transforms how your communities move. Shared mobility will continue to transform transportation as we know it, and offering it at your property is an attractive additional perk for prospective buyers. 

3. Reduces the need for individual car ownership.

Car ownership is an increasing cost with a decreasing associated value. People don’t really want to own cars anymore, some people might just not know it yet. Your residents can only truly be liberated of car ownership if they have alternative modes of travel and dedicated, luxury vehicles are a game-changer. 

4. Reduces the space needed for parking.

‍With more people using your shared mobility service, you’ll need less parking space for residents to leave their personal vehicles. This can hugely reduce the cost of construction and the risk associated with excavation. For existing buildings, this space can be transformed into other revenue-generating opportunities such as commercial offices, resident storage, or freight consolidation. 

5. Supports sustainability and liveability targets.

‍Be a force for good by offering future-proofed, climate-conscious solutions. If you implement electric vehicles, shared mobility further reduces emissions, and paves the way for a more connected, convenient future. The climate change agenda is driving decision-making at the city and community levels, and property owners need to adapt if they are to remain relevant and competitive. 

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6. Improve affordability.

Reduced construction costs and strata lot size will mean lower purchase prices and strata fees. This opens your development up to a greater pool of buyers and investors. 

Do the vehicles need to be electric?

Well, we certainly think so! Traditionally, shared vehicles can use any powertrain and the greater range/lower cost of internal combustion engine vehicles has been favoured. However this industry is in transition, and there are two compelling reasons why we think electric vehicles are the only option for property-based vehicle sharing right now:

1. Climate consciousness: we are at a critical point in history for climate change action and transport is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. With the rapid advancement of new technologies, new regulations, and behavioural changes, it would be ill-considered to continue down the path of fossil fuel-based internal combustion engines. 

2. Ease of operations: from a practical point of view, electric vehicles are far easier to manage. Users simply need to return the vehicle, plug them back into the charger and they will be ready for the next user. No need for complex fuel cards, fuel stations or mobile refuelling schedules. They also have far lower fuel costs, lower maintenance costs and increased energy security at a time when petrol and diesel prices are highly volatile. 

How do I know if shared mobility is right for my property?

While we know shared mobility is the future of mobility, some properties are better suited at this stage of uptake than others. Here are some signs your property is the perfect candidate for early shared mobility implementation: 

1. Demographic:

‍If there’s one thing we’ve learned from past technology revolutions, it’s that the younger generations and those with high social status are the early adoptors. Shared mobility is relevant to everyone, but early trends around the world suggest that the best candidates for adoption are:

- Young adults (predominantly between ages 18 and 45)

- Singles living alone or childless-couples

- Mid-high income households

If this is the demographic of your property, chances are it’s a good candidate for integrating shared mobility. 

That said, many older adults - predominantly those over 60 - have also proven themselves willing and keen early adopters of shared mobility. This is promising for modern retirement communities where individual car ownership is unnecessary and hard to justify, but where having access to mobility remains important. 

2. Scale:

For the most efficient implementation, properties of a certain scale and population are better suited for shared mobility. We typically see deployments of 2 cars and/or 6 e-bikes or scooters per 100 residents as a starting point. This ensures enough demand for the service and enough supply to meet the demand. 

However, smaller, boutique developments could still benefit from offering the service, even though vehicle utilisation is likely to be lower. This is still a great option for a smaller, luxury development that wants to attract clients with state-of-the-art amenities.

3. Location

Shared vehicles shouldn’t be a standalone mobility solution, but rather a cog in a smooth-running transportation machine. So ask yourself, are there other local factors that negate the requirement for car ownership? 

Rural populations for example, may still more heavily rely on car ownership than those living in cities. Amenities like shopping or restaurants are far away, and alternative mobility solutions such as public transport are inefficient. In those cases, it might be challenging or counter-productive to make the business argument for giving up private car ownership.

Urban properties within a web of other mobility options are better suited to offer up shared vehicles as a service. This, of course, is likely to continually improve as city-wide Mobility as a Service (MaaS) schemes continue to grow and reinforce the need to access rather than own vehicles.

So if your property already has access to public transport and local amenities, as well as alternative mobility options such as ridesharing and free-floating micromobility providers, or even ample and safe bike paths - your property is a great candidate. 

How do I configure my property-based fleet?

If you think your property is a good candidate for shared mobility, rest assured that there are multiple options available to make it perfect for your needs. Every property is different, and your service should be tailored based on the factors above. 

Vehicle types

Mobility should be fluid and the mode of transport should be matched with need. Why take a car to the shop a couple of blocks down the road, when walking or hopping on an e-bike is quicker and healthier? Why rely on cumbersome public transport for a weekend outing, when a fully charged e-vehicle is ready to take you anywhere? Shared mobility providers like Ollo offer multiple options for properties, so that they can best meet the needs of their users.

- Cars

‍Electric cars are the natural choice for property-based mobility services. Residents can hire them on demand and simply plug the vehicle back in when they return home, charging it for the next user. With traditional combustion engine vehicles, refueling would be more complex. Your choice of vehicle will depend on your brand and community’s willingness to pay per hour. With over 60 models of electric cars expected to be available in Australia by the end of 2022, it is an exciting time to be putting shared cars in property developments. 

- E-bikes and e-scooters

Micro-mobility solutions have exploded in popularity around the world in the last few years. They are perfect for shorter trips around the local area and bridge the gap between walking and driving. The latest generation of micro-mobility vehicles are stylish, functional, fun, convenient, and easy to use, immediately enhancing the image of your development. Some local councils are still hesitant on e-scooter safety, so e-bikes are a safer bet but these solutions are rapidly gaining wider public acceptance. 

Chargers

If you’re implementing shared electric cars (or even if you’re enabling private electric vehicles), you’ll need to consider the impact of vehicle chargers on space and local power supply. 

For shared electric cars, we recommend 22kW AC chargers for this service type as they require minimum space and have minimal impact on the local power supply. 

E-bikes and scooters also feature battery swap capabilities, meaning the charging requirements are more flexible and less taxing on the property.

Location of vehicles

Location is important but not critical, and ultimately comes down to you and your preferences. The shared mobility setup is flexible and adaptable to suit most properties. That said, we always suggest opting for a position near the main entrances. Why? Because being in sight also means being in mind, which will have a direct impact on demand for service.  Being located near the main onsite electrical infrastructure also means reduced costs of charger installation. As a bonus, having an electric vehicle fleet in a prime location in your property implies luxury, convenience, and advancement. It’s a luxurious amenity after all - why not show it off?

Fleet size adjustments

Are you worried you’ll opt for the wrong fleet size for your property? Don’t be. If the service data justifies more (or less) vehicles, we can quickly adjust the size of the fleet to ensure the ideal availability and level of service for your property. 

How does the shared mobility business model work?

You might be wondering: how does the financial side work? Our aim is that shared mobility should be easy to implement, maintain and use for both the users and the properties that implement them. 

It’s our view that modern properties shouldn’t be expected to buy their fleet of shared vehicles as this is a large upfront investment and ongoing cost. Instead, shared mobility service providers allow properties to subscribe to a tailored, flexible fleet of vehicles for a monthly fee that covers costs associated with insurance, cleaning, and maintenance. Residents then pay to access the vehicles per hour and the revenue generated is shared with the property. 

If the service provider and property collaborate to market and operate the vehicles effectively, shared mobility will be a cost-neutral property amenity at worst. Property owners are also able to derive value in other ways from providing this service as there is increased value in living, working, or staying in your building. 

That’s right, you’re securing a sought-after luxury amenity for your property that recovers costs and adds huge value to your product. 

Looking to the greener future

Adopting shared mobility is an exciting step towards a greener, more connected future - but there’s no reason to stop there. What other amenities can you offer residents or clients, or what other ways can you improve the carbon footprint of your building? Perhaps you can invest in vertical gardens, rain capture for greywater use around the property, better waste management, or solar panels? Not only can you rest assured that you’re doing your part for a better tomorrow, but these amenities can be the deciding factor that sets you apart from your competition!

Got questions? We’ve got answers

There’s no getting around that shared mobility will redefine mobility and car ownership in Australia over the coming decade. But for cutting-edge developments, the time to get onboard is today. Whether it’s for a brand new Build-to-Rent in Brisbane, a hotel on the Gold Coast, a commercial precinct in Sydney, or another community development elsewhere - if your property ticks the above boxes, chances are it’s a perfect candidate for shared mobility. If you have further questions about what this luxury amenity could mean for your properties, feel free to get in touch. We’re thrilled to support forward-thinking property stakeholders in envisioning and enacting exciting new futures for their communities.