Ecolane News 1/2005
		Dear reader, You are reading the latest newsletter from Ecolane. Once again we would like to update you on some interesting issues regarding personal mobility. In this issue we’ll tell you how dynamic carpooling is finally becoming a feasible option for commuting and how it could help the suburbia lovers. And we are having some quite interesting results with our demand-responsive transit services. Let’s start with that. Demand-Responsive Transit (DRT) services are in use all over the world. As you might be aware, a typical DRT service offers transportation, such as a minibus, to pick you up at a desired time and location, and take you to the destination. However, the traditionally high operating expenses have been a prohibitive reason why they have not been expanded and improved for larger scale use. DRT services would also be excellent for people who choose daily how they travel – for example going to work, to hobbies and to the airport. Ecolane’s real-time DRT technology is the first capable of delivering high-quality and cost effectiveness required by customers, including the corporate segment. To meet the demands for a high quality service the pre-order time, waiting time and trip extension time are all very short. All this has been achieved with a lower cost per kilometer than most publicly funded DRT services! Our partners' Taxi Sharing services now in operation have been producing cost savings of more than 25% for corporate customers, while the average trip has only been extended by 300 meters per passenger. From an environmental viewpoint there has also been nearly a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions when compared to the previous services. Please contact us if you want to know how to do this. While successfully implementing a service for the corporate segment, our development team has also been busy making sure that our dynamic carpool application fulfills actual user needs even better. We have gained extensive knowledge about personal carpooling behavior, and have made improved accordingly. The service now offers several fee calculation models and user interfaces, such as web and mobile, while still offering the ultimate in real-time matching and convenience. The instructions how to join the mailing list, or how to cancel the subscription, are in the end of the message. Enjoy reading the Ecolane News! Antti Hannula Ecolane Finland Oy

Traffic Lights
EMPLOYEES WOULD CARPOOL – IF THEY COULD

For employers it is beneficial that commuters would actually carpool more often. Taking a passenger along roughly the same route is the core idea of carpooling, which results in many positive benefits for all. Providing some type of carpool service is becoming a standard offering by many employers, but participation is low. While the concept of carpooling has been around for awhile, it is not convenient enough to be a viable option for people that enjoy the convenience of a private car. There are typically two reasons for the lack of carpooling; being able to accommodate those with irregular working hours and actually finding a suitable carpool partner.

This can all be changed with a dynamic carpool service that offers convenience and flexibility. According to Reed Executive PLC, “45% of UK workers would be more likely to work for an employer who offered an easy-to-use car-sharing [carpool] scheme.” Employees want more than a simple solution that matches names and locations. They need a solution that goes one step further by matching names and locations automatically in real-time – something dynamic. They need to be able to choose when they want to carpool at that moment - be it in the morning before work or after a meeting that went a little longer than planned. Adhering to a fixed schedule at work is something of the past. The same can be said of carpooling. Employees need a carpool service that adapts to the flexibility in their schedule.

Ecolane’s technology for Dynamic Carpooling is currently in use in Europe, and will soon be in use in the USA. As many of our customers have said, this is actually “the most exciting mobile service I’ve ever seen”. In addition to using the service with a mobile phone; you can also the access the same service through the internet as well.

Market Watch
FROM SUBURBIA WITH LOVE

While life in the suburbs can be grand, commuting to work is becoming more and more of a challenge. People are spending more time in their cars because congestion has nearly turned the major thoroughfares feeding cities into parking lots. What used to be a thirty minute commute is now an hour or more.

Public transportation is too expensive in low density areas and the infrastructure needed to facilitate the number of cars entering and exiting city centers daily is not feasible. Research shows that an increase in carpooling of just 10% results in a 50% decrease in congestion, yet the overwhelming majority of people commute alone in private cars each day. We don’t need more roads; we just need to use the ones we have more effectively. Local governments have a serious problem on their hands.

By carpooling commuters are able to get to work easier, faster and with less stress; not to mention the benefits to the environment and reduced costs to local governments. With Ecolane Dynamic Carpool commuters can help reduce this growing problem. The empty seats are waiting.

News
LOCAL TAXI COMPANY PICKS-UP NEW BUSINESS

Ecolane DRT Service has been successfully deployed by a leading Finnish personal transportation company to fulfill the needs of large corporate customers. The service offers immediate savings while maintaining high quality of service.

ECOLANE TAXI SHARING (DRTS) TECHNOLOGY DEMO ON CD

The new demo CD clearly illustrating how Ecolane DRT (also known as Taxi Sharing) works, is now available. Please contact us to receive your complementary copy.

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