Car Sharing and Urban Mobility for Livable Cities
An article by Luigi Licchelli, FREE2MOVE, published in the white paper “The Mobility Revolution”.
FREE2MOVE
Free2move is the leading car-sharing company in Europe. A pioneer in free-floating car-sharing, Free2move has been revolutionizing the mobility industry since 2016. It is a global mobility provider offering a complete and unique ecosystem to its individual and business customers. Driven by data and technology, Free2move places the customer experience at the center of its priorities. Safe, convenient, and accessible through a single app, the offer includes free-floating car-sharing, short, medium, and long-term car rentals, subscription-based car-sharing, and parking services. It currently has over 6 million customers, 450,000 rental vehicles, and 500,000 parking spaces. Headquartered in Paris, the company is part of the Stellantis group, a global automotive manufacturer and mobility provider.
The Role of Car Sharing in Sustainable, Efficient Cities
In an increasingly congested, polluted urban context marked by a growing demand for efficiency and sustainability, the future of mobility can only be shared. Literally. Car sharing is now one of the most promising tools for rethinking public space, reducing traffic, cutting emissions, and facilitating the movement of people and goods. However, to fully realize this potential, it is essential to build a strong relationship between private operators and public institutions.
Car Sharing as a Driver of Sustainable Mobility
In recent years, sustainable mobility has gained momentum due to technological innovation and increased environmental awareness. In this scenario, car sharing stands out for its concrete impact: a shared car can replace up to 10 private vehicles, freeing up urban space and contributing to emission reductions. Today, services like those offered by Free2move are already present in major Italian cities like Milan, Rome, and Turin, showing how the model can work.
But the path is not without obstacles. The evolution of car sharing requires significant technological investments (such as remote or autonomous driving) and infrastructure upgrades – such as the expansion of 5G networks or charging stations – which are still insufficient in many Italian cities.
Institutional Collaboration: The Real Leverage for Change
A central aspect that emerged from Free2move’s experience is the importance of a more homogeneous and future-oriented regulatory ecosystem. Companies active in shared mobility face daily challenges with regulations and operating conditions that, while originally designed for regulation and control, can sometimes be complex or not aligned with the sector’s sustainable development goals. These include differing taxation from local public transport (22% VAT vs. 10%), high fees, or the wide areas required for operations.
To contribute proactively to the evolution of the regulatory framework, Assosharing, the Italian association representing the majority of the Italian sharing market, has initiated a structured dialogue with ANCI – the National Association of Italian Municipalities – with the goal of establishing a permanent discussion table. The aim is to create a model of collaboration between the public and private sectors, capable of reconciling administrative needs with operational requirements, thus generating value for the entire community. An initiative that both Assosharing and Free2move hope can become a reference point for the development of increasingly inclusive, connected, and sustainable smart cities.
Fighting Urban Waste and Democratizing Mobility
Car sharing is not just an ecological solution: it is also a tool for urban justice. By reducing the need to own a private car and offering affordable and flexible options for different population groups, it can bridge the mobility access gap. For example, Free2move is studying the opening of hubs in peripheral areas like Assago, promoting a model of inclusive transport that is not limited to central areas.
In parallel, efforts are underway to raise awareness and inform citizens of all ages about the economic and environmental benefits of vehicle sharing. On average, a person can save up to €4,000 a year using car-sharing services instead of owning a car.
Ecological Transition, Data, and Artificial Intelligence
Free2move has already started the electric transition of its fleets and where electric vehicles are not possible, it integrates Euro 6 vehicles in line with the highest environmental standards. But the company’s commitment to sustainability goes beyond just the type of engine: it uses advanced algo rithms and artificial intelligence to optimize vehicle redistribution, forecast demand, and improve operational efficiency, minimizing unnecessary movements and increasing vehicle availability at strategic points.
A Future Tailored to Cities
The future of urban mobility requires a cultural paradigm shift: from ownership to use, from fragmentation to integration, from congestion to fluidity. Car sharing is a fundamental part of this scenario but cannot develop on its own. Bold public policies, clear and favorable rules, infrastructure investments, and strong collaboration with private actors are necessary.
Only then will it be possible to build cities with fewer cars, less traffic, less pollution, but with more movement, more accessibility, and better quality of life.
