The Viennese startup Eloop wants to strengthen its e-car sharing offer in the corporate sector and has started a cooperation with the global payment network Visa. As part of the collaboration, cardholders of Visa business cards will now have access to exclusive offers and discounts.
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Corporate car sharing similar to private use
“Big cities and traditional company fleets have one thing in common: there are a lot of cars, but most of them are rarely driven. In terms of space, sustainability and costs, it is far more efficient to share a few cars. That is the basic idea of car sharing, and it is becoming increasingly popular with private individuals and companies,” explains Philip Tropper, CSO of Eloop.
If employers use the services of a car sharing provider to make their employees mobile for business trips, this is referred to as corporate car sharing. In practical application, Eloop’s B2B segment is no different than car sharing for private individuals. Both user groups access the same pool of vehicles, which are available in a free-floating model. Users can park their rental vehicle at any parking lot in the city, where the next trip can begin immediately. Availability can be checked using the Eloop app. The app also allows users to locate and book vehicles.
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“The big advantage of station-based car sharing is its flexibility. Instead of having to go to a fixed location, my smartphone shows me where the next available vehicle is in the area. This means a significant saving in travel, especially for operational mobility, as employees do not have to travel to the company fleet either when picking up or returning the vehicle,” says Tropper.
Eloop’s fleet consists of just over 200 electric cars, all of them Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y. According to the start-up, in corporate car sharing, holders of Visa business cards receive a 20 percent discount on all tariffs and kilometers and pay in the For the first six months, neither the basic fee (thereafter 24.90 euros per month) nor the additional charge per employee (thereafter 14.90 euros per month). The discount also applies to employees’ private trips.
“As a global payments network, Visa is in a unique position to drive sustainable consumption and responsible behavior. We support private companies and transport operators worldwide in implementing sustainable mobility concepts through digital payment options,” explains Stefanie Ahammer, head of Visa for Austria. “Our collaboration with Eloop is another great example of such a user-friendly and sustainable mobility solution. We are pleased to be providing decisive impetus for corporate e-car sharing as part of our cooperation.”