Smart-sharing program and, according to the company, answers the question of “how flexible and independent mobility can be achieved without car ownership.”

Car2gether matches up carpooling mates, replacing upturned thumbs and notes pinned to a corkboard with online profiles and smartphone software. All users must register and post a photo along with other personal information that we hope includes whether they plan on eating an egg salad sandwich while in the car.

Users enter details about upcoming journeys using a smartphone or PC and let the car2gether software make a match. Should users want to connect on their own, the software automatically posts details of ride offers and requests on a microblogging site similar to Twitter.

For now, use of the software comes at no charge but like car2go, the new service requires passengers to pay for travel time — a suggested charge of 9.5 cents per minute to reimburse the driver for vehicle maintenance, gas and time spent cleaning that spilled Starbucks latte off the passenger-side floor mat. At first, passengers will pay drivers in cash but as the pilot progresses Daimler will debut an automated, cashless payment program.

Car2gether debuts on September 18th in the German city of Ulm, a university town just brimming with tech-savvy students looking for transportation on the cheap. If the trial proves popular, the test may expand to other cities.

Photo: nevernameless / Flickr

See also:

• Smart car2go, From Ulm to Austin
• Daimler Brings Car Sharing to The Lone Star State
• Zipcar iPhone App Makes Car Sharing a Breeze

Authors: Keith Barry

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