Global energy body backs carpooling as UK fuel prices rise

As energy prices increase, Mobilityways says no government mandate is needed – businesses can act now to reduce energy consumption

Carpooling specialist Mobilityways has welcomed the International Energy Agency's call for governments and businesses to encourage car sharing, and is urging UK employers to act immediately as energy prices continue to rise.

The International Energy Agency, which counts the UK among its 32 member nations, has outlined ten measures to reduce energy consumption worldwide in response to the ongoing conflict in the Gulf. 

Car sharing and efficient driving featured prominently. IEA executive director Fatih Birol told the BBC the world faces "the greatest global energy security threat in history".

Mobilityways says the numbers make the case plainly. UK cars currently average just 1.55 passengers per journey. Raising that to 1.8 would reduce fuel consumption by approximately 14%, saving around 4 billion litres annually.

That is not a distant ambition: France already achieves 1.7 to 1.8 average occupancy through systematic carpooling support, and during the 1970s oil crisis UK car traffic fell around 5% through largely informal arrangements with no digital tools at all.

Mobilityways works with large employers across the UK, including the Heathrow Airport, Lloyds Banking Group and more than 30 NHS Trusts, to measure, reduce and report commuter emissions through its enterprise platform, Liftshare For Work.

Ali Clabburn, chairman of Mobilityways and founder of Liftshare, said: “We now have 700,000 people already on Liftshare.com and a platform that can scale within weeks. The IEA is telling the world to carpool. The UK can lead on this because we already have everything we need.”

Julie Furnell, managing director of Mobilityways, added: “Every empty seat on the commute is wasted fuel. Large employers need to consider how they can support their teams with the rising fuel costs. With a carpool community your employees save money, you reduce your Scope 3 emissions, and you are doing something real in response to a genuine energy challenge. We are ready to help any organisation get started.”
www.liftshare.com