Free-Floating Carsharing
Definition of free-floating carsharing: how spontaneous, on-demand vehicle rentals operate across urban operational zones without fixed return stations.
Free-floating carsharing is an urban car sharing model in which users find, unlock and drop off cars anywhere within a defined city area via smartphone, without returning the car to a fixed station.
How It Works
Free-floating systems rely on connected cars, GPS positioning and automated app workflows:
- Instant discovery: Users open a map showing available cars parked on the street and in partner car parks.
- Per-minute or per-hour billing: Pricing is usually based on usage time or hour bundles. Fuel or electricity, parking and damage protection are often included in the rate.
- Flexible drop-off: At the end of the trip, users park the car legally anywhere in the operating area and end the rental in the app.
Free-Floating vs. Station-Based Carsharing
Both models can replace a private car, but they suit different trips:
- Free-floating: One-way trips in the city, spontaneous errands, or getting to and from a train station.
- Station-based: Planned round trips and weekend outings where the car goes back to its home parking bay.
Fleet Challenges and Rebalancing
- Rebalancing: Cars tend to cluster in residential or business districts, so operators use service teams or price incentives to redistribute them.
- Municipal parking agreements: Operators negotiate with cities so shared cars may park in public spaces.
Related Terms
A car in Zurich, no counter
Our cars are parked at fixed locations in and around Zurich. Pick one up there and bring it back to the same spot.
More Mobility Definitions
Car Rental Security Deposit (Kaution)
What a car rental security deposit is: why rental companies hold an amount on your card, what that means for your card limit and debit cards, and how renting without a card hold works.
Car subscription: what it is and how it differs from renting
A car subscription is a car you use for a fixed monthly fee. Unlike a rental, you commit for months, not for hours or days.
Deductible in Damage Protection (Selbstbehalt)
What a car rental deductible (excess) is: the most you pay if the car is damaged. How deductible tiers work and which three DRAIV offers.
Digital Handover & Damage Inspection Protocol
What a digital handover protocol is: timestamped photos record a rental car's condition at pickup and return, together with mileage and fuel level. How the walk-around works in an app.
Keyless Handover
What a keyless handover is: you unlock, drive and lock a rental or shared car with an app, with no key and no desk. How digital access works technically.