Liluna carpools for carbon and costs
Many people drive to work alone every day, but a new mobile app offers to connect travel companions and help share fuel costs.
Natthaphong Jaravijit developed the app to help travellers with transport costs.
Called Liluna, it connects drivers and passengers riding on the same routes.
The app was created to deal with traffic through carpooling, and reduce carbon footprints, said Mr Natthaphong, who was a software developer in Munich, Germany before returning to Thailand to run his own business.
Drivers can fill vacant seats with companions who help reduce travel expenses by sharing the cost of fuel.
Passengers who do not own vehicles select their desired route on the Liluna Board and ask others to join with them.
He said Liluna is actively supporting the sharing economy, with 87,000 downloads. Over 3,000 drivers having registered with the service since the app’s launch in February.
Liluna users are mostly 18-25 years of age, with passengers 55% women and 45% men. Of the drivers, 95% are men.
Unlike other ride-sharing or taxibooking apps, Liluna drivers can define the route and share the cost of travel with companions, instead of earning a supplementary income.
Passengers will have more travel alternatives that are cheaper than taxis and other ride-sharing apps.
Drivers decide the cost of travel, which is displayed on the app for passengers to choose from.
Both drivers and passengers are required to register with Liluna and will be able to check each other’s profiles before pick-up.
Liluna has angel funds but is still looking for more funding to expand its user base and build its brand.
Mr Natthaphong said by the end of this year, Liluna will launch a new version with an emergency button, which is integrated with the Police i lert u app, informing police of emergencies.
Moreover, the new version will be able to designate locations along routes, which will allow passengers greater choice.
The new version will also cover routes in more provinces.
The app is not making money, but Mr Natthaphong believes that it will gain more momentum in the next several years.
“The concept of Liluna app has already been successful in France — the carpooling app BlaBlaCar is a now a unicorn,” he said.
Once users register with their mobile phone numbers, the system will automatically send a one-time password to verify identity.
This method helps the app access users’ ID cards.
Liluna drivers have to submit their driving licence and tax label as well as licence plate number, vehicle brand and model and compulsory insurance.
“We also have a user rating function to make the system trustworthy, “said Mr Natthaphong.