Eco2Transport

November 18, 2010 by 1 Comment

This week, we exhibited at Eco2Transport along with a number of other companies in the transport and cleantech space. As to be expected, there were many very innovative companies there. One of the most interesting pieces of information to come out of the whole event was during a panel discussion led by Richard Kemp-Harper who is the Lead Technologist Transport and Energy from the Technology Strategy Board. Zac from Carbon Diem mentioned that there were relatively new UK Government guidelines about sustainability reporting – and the key bit is that business travel is included. The full document can be downloaded here.

We were able to also give two presentations on the roles of technology and behaviour change in helping organisations establish successful sustainable transport schemes.

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Taxis in London – 196,000 tonnes of carbon per annum

October 22, 2010 by 1 Comment

This week we visited the European Future Energy Forum at ExCeL. There were some great presentations about e-mobility and smarter cities from Siemens, but perhaps the most interesting presentation was given by the CEO of the European Climate Foundation, Jules Kortenhorst in a panel discussion on Promoting the Development of Sustainable Fuels for Transport. One of their findings was that a 50% reduction in carbon by 2050 is only possible with zero-carbon road transport. It was good to hear someone highlight this as I often get the view that the only discussion about climate change at the moment is around energy.

Tesla

Tesla at EFEF

In the Eco Transport showcase, there were two very cool Tesla vehicles so thought I should pop a picture in from my trusty iPhone!

But perhaps the most valuable set of statistics were from some posters made by Transport for London. The key one (below) showed that transport in London is responsible for 9.8 million tonnes of carbon each year, or 22% of the total carbon emissions for London. Almost half of that (4.5 million tonnes) comes from cars and motorcycles and the good old taxi industry is responsible for 196,000 tonnes. Given the statistics from the Department for Transport about occupancy rates in cars and our own knowledge of taxi occupancy rates, it is not too difficult to see that if vehicles were used in more efficient ways, you could save over a million tonnes of carbon a year, just in London.

TfL Statistics

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A busy month

October 15, 2010 by Leave a Comment

October has been rather busy for the team here at Carbon Voyage. The project with Tesco and the University of Manchester is now fully focused on staff travel, we have started working with a new client to help them understand the impact of their UK transport which should then transition into a service to manage and reduce this and should hopefully be starting a very exciting project with a very large transport provider in the UK. Next week we’re hosting a round table at the European Future Energy Forum and participating in the Eco Transport Showcase. Details of the round table can be found here. This session will look at what is important in building a sustainable transport system for an organisation or a city, where the opportunities lie and what the barriers are to setting up a successful system.

We are also launching a new cash booking service this month, initially based in East London and focused on airport journeys at very competitive rates.

 

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Why will people only share cabs during a tube strike?

June 21, 2010 by 1 Comment

On Wednesday, there is some likelihood that there will be a tube strike on the London Undergound and Docklands Light Railway. When it happened last year, there were a number of taxi sharing initiatives set up by Transport for London (TfL) that were reported on. It really is a shame that taxi sharing (and car sharing) is not part of normal life here as it is in other countries as it is a great way to save money, meet new people and reduce your impact on the environment. Peter Jackson from the BBC considered this last year during the tube strike and his leading comment was:

“Londoners hit by a 48-hour Tube strike are being encouraged to taxi-share to keep the city moving. It’s an idea that makes sense on any day of the year – but can the notoriously reticent British really take it to heart?”

It is an unfortunate set of circumstances but pretty true. Typically, our customers save 30% of the shared component of their fare when they share, so there is an economic argument in favour of sharing, and in these tough financial times, that’s not a bad deal.

PS. If you do want a cab during the strike, I would book early online or via 0844 669 4444!

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The Launch of Tesco Carbon Voyage

June 16, 2010 by 1 Comment

We are launching a ride sharing service called Tesco Carbon Voyage this week in partnership with Tesco and the University of Manchester’s Sustainable Consumption Institute (SCI). The service will be operating as a twelve week trial at three of Tesco’s big stores in North West London; if it proves successful, it may be extended. To visit the site, click here. The service will be offered to Tesco Clubcard holders in three Tesco Extra stores in North West London.

This is a really important activity; 84% of all passenger car trips in the United Kingdom only have one occupant according to DfT figures, so any opportunity to increase vehicle occupancy can have a impact on reducing carbon emissions, congestion as well as cost. The service we provide will be great in being able to get a baseline of the impact of customer travel to and from these stores and then identify potential financial and environmental savings.

What we are trying to do here is firstly understand travel patterns to and from supermarkets and then provide Tesco customers with a safe and convenient way to share their trips to and from their stores. The customers of the service will be able to book via phone, text or online. We will capture all the financial and environmental data so customers can find out how much they are saving through the ride-sharing scheme.

At the end of the trial, the SCI will also interview several hundred participants to get a detailed understanding of their views to such a service – what is a good enough incentive to get people to share, what barriers are there and so on. Something that is unique here is that not only are people being surveyed about their travel patterns, but we have the opportunity to see what they actually do. The SCI has also written a short information piece on this trial here.

As a start up, this is a tremendous opportunity to deploy a service on a very large scale and demonstrate the value of what we have to offer, and we’re really pleased to have been selected by these organisations to help them deliver this service.

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HEATHROW AND GATWICK EXPRESS LAUNCH ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY DOOR-TO-DOOR AIRPORT SERVICE WITH CARBON VOYAGE

June 25, 2009 by 1 Comment

Heathrow and Gatwick Express have launched the first ever environmentally friendly door-to-door service to and from the airport with Carbon Voyage. Travellers can book a pick up from either their home or office in a Carbon Voyage car and travel to Paddington or Victoria Stations where they will board the express train service to Heathrow or Gatwick Airports.

This new integrated service, which is booked on-line, means customers will only need to make one booking, to arrange a Carbon Voyage vehicle and train ticket. Train tickets will be sent electronically to the customers, saving postage and paper.

James Swanston of Carbon Voyage said, “From an environmental perspective, this new service will assist in taking cars off the road, reducing congestion and more importantly the pollution caused from the five million people per year that use taxis and minicabs to travel to and from Heathrow and Gatwick Airports. The average taxi trip from Paddington to Heathrow is approximately 6.2 kg of CO2 emissions as opposed to 1.4 kg using a train (Source: www.transportdirect.info ).”

George Fripp, Account Manager for Heathrow and Gatwick Express adds: “We wanted to optimise our offering and provide a best-in-class service and assistance to our travellers. This product is applicable not just to our UK customers as it can be booked on-line it is just as relevant for international travellers coming into the UK.”

Jonny Goldstone of Green Tomato Cars, London’s largest exclusively green taxi company said. “By working with Green Tomato Cars, the service combining Carbon Voyage and Heathrow and Gatwick Express demonstrates that travellers can easily “go green” without settling for a lower quality of service or paying a premium – customers will experience smoother journeys, excellent customer service, reduce their environmental impact and pay less for the journey all at the same time.”

Prices start from £32 and can be booked online at www.carbonvoyage.com

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Carbon Voyage launches booking service to lower cost and carbon of car rides

March 6, 2009 by Leave a Comment


  • Passengers share rides and find cars on return journeys
  • Companies and customers cash in and cut carbon

LONDON, UK, February 25, 2009 – Carbon Voyage today launches a car-booking service that helps people to cut the cost and carbon footprint of using private car hire.

Customers are already using the service, which is in beta trials, to share cars with other people and take advantage of the wasted return journeys minicabs make.

“Tough economic times are opening doors for cost-saving businesses,” says James Swanston, CEO of Carbon Voyage. “The beauty of our service is that it makes car travel cheaper and cuts the environmental impact of private-hire cars.

“It’s important for us to deliver value but also do our bit to tackle climate change. That’s what green business is all about.”

There are some 66,000 taxis and private-hire vehicles in London, according to the National Office of Statistics. It is estimated that private hire vehicles are empty up to 45 per cent of the time, according to Government figures. This is called ‘dead mileage’ is regarded by car operators and environmentalist as an extremely wasteful use of a journey.

The BBC annually spends £19 million on taxi and private car rides, while the demand to cut carbon footprints and costs continues to rise.

The Carbon Voyage experience promises to give a safe, low-cost and carbon service to customers in the London area.

Anyone wishing to trial the beta service should contact: info@carbonvoyage.com

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