Car-sharing and environment-friendly mobility at the Slovenian Ministry of Defence

As part of its activities to reduce the environmental impact and greening of defence, the Ministry of Defence (the Ministry) has introduced car sharing

Car sharing is the rental of a vehicle where the rental time is usually measured in minutes or hours. It is an increasingly popular way of travelling in a way that avoids the downsides of ownership.

With this decision, the Ministry has joined the electric vehicle sharing system in the territory of the Republic of Slovenia. This approach to mobility is in line with the Government Regulation and the general renewal and optimisation of the Ministry's fleet.

From fossil fuels to renewables

The Ministry recognises that it is difficult to avoid travelling for work (business) and thus having your own car fleet, so in the interest of greening mobility, it also encourages car sharing. One option for greener mobility is the use of so-called alternative energy vehicles. For every kilometre of use of – for example – an electric vehicle (instead of an internal combustion engine vehicle), users save 100 grams of CO2 emissions. By renting instead of owning, we simultaneously reduce mobility costs, reduce traffic congestion and avoid noise pollution. The cost of hiring vehicles is known in advance, while the cost of a Ministry vehicle, on an annual basis, excluding fuel and staff costs, is €1,914.

Sharing is one of the cornerstones of sustainable coexistence and development

The benefits of car sharing are shared by everyone, not just the users. Research shows that on average, an owner-occupied vehicle is unused more than 90% of the time, putting a burden on the environment in addition to unnecessary costs for the owner. Just one site with three car-sharing vehicles can replace thirty owner-occupied vehicles.

The Ministry combines the latest trends in mobility: car-sharing and electric mobility with a contracted service. Through a contractual relationship with a car-sharing service provider, over 400 electric vehicles of various makes are available to the Ministry’s employees for business purposes, available at more than 150 pick-up/return locations in Ljubljana, Maribor, Kranj, Murska Sobota and Novo mesto. For business trips abroad, there is also an important location at the Jože Pučnik Airport.

The Ministry’s contribution to environmental protection

The Ministry currently has 173 active users who can access the provider’s entire fleet of vehicles via a smartphone app. The Ministry started using the app in autumn 2021, during which time approximately 400 electric vehicle journeys have been made by employees, saving the environment one tonne of CO2 emissions. This has also been successful in reducing mobility costs, while reducing congestion and the need to own company cars. The system has also proven to be an excellent way to reduce dependency on company cars. The service is convenient and has reduced the number of journeys made by employees in fossil fuel-powered company cars.

Concrete experiences help spread e-mobility

Car sharing for work purposes can also be a way of encouraging people to think about the real needs of car journeys and more environmentally friendly or sustainable mobility. Electric mobility, or transport powered by alternative energy sources, is a process that is changing not only our travel habits, but also the way we do business, think and live.

Prepared by: Srečko Kravcar, MORS

Edited by: Nataša Rebernik, TECES