We need to optimise the use of the assets we already own !
By Oscaro.com
The automotive industry provides more than twelve million jobs in Europe. Hence, its future concerns us all. Automotive companies are re-imagining their business models and looking to the future. It is common knowledge that tomorrow’s car should be clean, hybrid or electric, affordable.
Despite the combined efforts of car manufacturer and of Original Equipment Manufacturers, the existing car fleet and most of new vehicles are equipped with an Internal Combustion Engine. In short, the automobile industry is still embedded in the past.
At Oscaro, we are committed to working towards a better use of the existing automotive fleet. Cars add convenience, comfort, security, and control and have become essential to our daily lives. Yet shifting to a clean future means that we need to take care of the present first: in this article, we want to share a few ideas on how to deal with it.
Innovation for a better use of the world vehicle fleet
Innovation in the mobility space, to which automobiles belong, is coming from start-ups and innovators, not only from automobile companies.
As an example, the field of intermobility is emerging quickly. We can now use various modes of transportation for a single journey. Many European start-ups are proposing projects involving multiple mobility solutions (train, bus, car, bicycle, etc.) and they are currently developing user friendly techniques to reduce the use of the private car.
Collaborative platforms will bring new mobility solutions to consumers as well: carpool and car sharing services… Most of them are emanate from the private sector and start-ups. The EUSP is a first step in that direction, which is why we’ve decided to support it.
Reducing the carbon footprint of mobility of today’s vehicles
The key to responsible mobility is to increase awareness on grey emission between businesses and consumers. One way of doing this is by using the life cycle assessment approach to measure the impacts of a vehicle from the design phase to its end-of-life, thus enabling it to effectively target environmentally positive actions.
Usually, production represents 25% – 30% of the vehicle’s impact on the planet and this corresponds to:
- Raw material extraction and the production of the parts
- Assembly of the vehicle, including manufacturing inputs and outputs.
The use phase impact of the vehicle on the planet represents 70% of its impact on the planet. To illustrate the approach, the Global Warming Potential of two cases was simulated, using Renault Lifecycle assessment (Megane IV).
- In the first case, a consumer keeps its vehicle during 300 000 km, whereas a second consumer chooses to invest in the next generation of a similar vehicle.
- In the second case, the new vehicle is supposed to consume and pollute 20% less than the previous one. The original vehicle is recycled.
The results of this comparison are illustrated on the graph above, and support a simple yet powerful idea: from an environmental and sustainability perspective, it makes more sense to focus on repairs and extending lifespan instead of building products that are meant to be renewed. It is our mission to make sure that cars are durable and reparable.
It is our responsibility to stand up for a Right to Repair!
For hundreds of years, Europeans have been buying products without worrying if they had the ability to repair them. They simply could.
Oscaro’s ambition is to help people have a great time with their rides. We achieve this goal by spreading the DiY values and providing a unique and fulfilling online experience that enables them to diagnose, maintain, repair, and upgrade their vehicles.
In 2007, the European Parliament argued that automotive data should be freely available as public good for independent repairers, distributors and consumers.
More than 10 years later, car maintenance has become much more complex: parts are not always available, data and repair manuals are still not accessible.
As a key player in the field of independent repair and environmentally engaged organizations, we ask for:
- The right to fix our own product, or to choose someone we trust to do so
- A fair access to service parts and tools, as well as diagnostics
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://startupprize.eu/wp-content/uploads/Oscaro.png[/author_image] [author_info]In only 10 years, Oscaro has completely disrupted the way we maintain and repair our cars. It has been the first pure player to offer car owners the possibility to buy online original new spare parts from the most renowned manufacturers. It continues to strive everyday to offer the best customer experience, through innovation, just-in-time logistics, and a client-centric philosophy.[/author_info] [/author]