Last week, I had the opportunity to rent a vehicle through a popular car-sharing platform. Overall, the process went smoothly, and thankfully, I didn’t crash the car. However, there was one inconvenience that stood out – the drop off and collection process.
In order to pick up the car, I had to cycle for about 10 minutes to the nearest available vehicle. Once I arrived, I had to find a safe place to store my bike and then drive the car back home. When I was finished using the car, I had to return it to one of the designated parking locations. I always had to be conscious of the time it took to get there, as the longer the trip, the higher the bill.
While car-sharing is generally designed to be more convenient than traditional rental services, there could be an even more convenient option on the horizon. Imagine being able to open an app, click a button, and have a remote-controlled car driven directly to your doorstep. When you’re done with the car, you simply apply the handbrake, step out, and leave it on the street without having to worry about finding parking.
German startup Vay is calling this concept “teledriving” and is planning to bring it to the streets of Belgium. However, the company is currently awaiting a permit from the authorities to proceed with their plans. Vay has partnered with Belgian car-sharing platform Poppy to implement their technology in over 2,000 vehicles. Ush, an expert in driverless systems, will be responsible for maintaining the remote-controlled car fleet and conducting tests before they are officially launched.
The range of cars available through this service will vary, from electric vehicles (EVs) to petrol-powered hatchbacks. The cars will be delivered to customers by a “teledriver” who will remotely control the vehicle from a custom-built station equipped with a driver’s seat, steering wheel, pedals, and three monitors that provide visibility in front and to the sides of the car. These teledrivers could potentially be located on the other side of the world, but most will likely be stationed at one of Vay’s teledriving centers.
Vay has already begun implementing their teledriving model on public roads. They launched a commercial service in Las Vegas, Nevada in January, marking their first entry into the US market. If their partnership with Poppy in Belgium is approved, it will be their first launch in Europe.
Teledriving is being touted as a more convenient alternative to traditional car-sharing for customers. For operators, it could be the difference between success and failure. According to Justin Spratt, the Chief Business Officer at Vay, remote driving has the potential to increase profitability in the car-sharing sector, which is known for its narrow profit margins. The company claims that teledriving can double the amount of time vehicles are in use, thus boosting revenues.
This concept of teledriving is seen as a stepping stone between conventional cars and fully autonomous vehicles. The development of fully autonomous vehicles has proven to be more challenging than initially anticipated, and Vay’s teledriving concept offers a viable alternative. In fact, Vay became the first company to operate a car without a driver inside on public roads in Europe last year. Thomas von de Ohe, the CEO of Vay, believes that automotive-grade teledriving can provide a safer and more reliable option for “driverless” transportation, as a human driver is always in control.
In December, Vay successfully raised $95 million in a Series B funding round. This signals investor confidence in the potential of teledriving technology, which offers a faster route to market compared to the continuously evolving promises of autonomous vehicle ventures such as Tesla, Waymo, and Cruise.
In conclusion, the introduction of teledriving technology by Vay and their partnership with Poppy in Belgium could revolutionize the car-sharing industry. With the ability to have a remote-controlled car delivered to your doorstep, customers can enjoy a more convenient experience without the hassle of finding parking. Additionally, operators can benefit from increased profitability and higher vehicle utilization rates. Teledriving also offers a promising alternative to fully autonomous vehicles, providing a safer and more reliable transportation option. With the successful implementation of teledriving in Las Vegas and potential expansion into Europe, Vay is paving the way for a future where car-sharing is even more accessible and convenient for everyone.
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