AppyParking, an award-winning parking app, has partnered with the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and Westminster City Council to launch One Click Parking, the world’s first pay-as-you-go parking payment system using connected vehicle technology.
Using the AppyParking app, drivers can identify the nearest parking space, see what the hours of restrictions are, and how much the hourly rate is. Once they have found a space, they can confirm their location with One Click Parking, removing the inconvenience of working out who and how they pay, and guessing how long they will be there for. When the driver is finished, they can simply pull out of the bay and the parking session ends immediately, only charging for the minutes stayed.
The commercial trial has launched in London’s Westminster district, following a successful beta test last year with the Pimlico Plumbers company. Other companies, including John Lewis, Handy Squad and Polytech, have now signed up for the trial of the One Click Parking product, with a total of 150 commercial vehicles taking part.
Each vehicle will be fitted with an easy-to-install dongle, which can be put under the steering wheel, to instantly connect the vehicle to the internet. Having been parked, when the vehicle detects a key in the ignition and a certain distance is travelled, a signal is sent to the payment back office system and AppyParking’s platform sends an email notification showing details of the stay.
For the first time, drivers will be only be charged for the minutes they have parked for, rather than having to run and top up from fear of incurring a ticket. Following the successful launch in Westminster, AppyParking will be rolling out One Click Parking to other London boroughs, with the aim of being UK wide in 2018.
“We’re excited to roll out One Click Parking in Westminster and to have some of the UK’s biggest brands on board,” said AppyParking’s CEO, Dan Hubert. “Currently, 40% of parking income and fines comes from London, even though Londoners own only 10% of UK cars, and it is our aim to make parking fines a distant memory.
“Every day drivers and fleet businesses are on the roads and it is impossible to predict how long an appointment or emergency may take. One Click Parking will take the pressure out of parking and benefit the local area by reducing congestion and pollution that comes from unnecessarily circling round the block.”
