Guy Carpenter released a report examining UK cities' readiness for Mobility as a Service, or MaaS, alongside a European overview from a reinsurance perspective.
The report notes how MaaS alters urban transport through integrated, on-demand options that serve as alternatives to car ownership. MaaS functions as part of a transition from ownership to usership. This shift adjusts the risk landscape and creates opportunities for the re/insurance sector.
The report presents the GC UK MaaS index to determine which cities stand to gain from MaaS developments. MaaS integration disrupts the mobility sector. Insurance requires adjustments to offer coverage across various transport modes for consumers.
The index shows cities under Combined Authorities hold an advantage in MaaS readiness. These models support cross-modal planning and coordinated investments.
Digital integration remains uneven across areas. Basic journey planning apps exist widely, but platforms for full booking and payment integration appear limited outside London.
Open data policies differ among cities. These variations affect third-party developers' capacity to create new features.
Legal e-scooter trials raise a city's score in shared and micro-mobility categories. Fragmented regulations for micro-mobility present a challenge to uniform MaaS readiness nationwide.
Cities with active travel infrastructure report higher cycling usage. Such features indicate a foundation for integrated transport systems suitable for MaaS.
Electric buses have increased in use, reflecting broader trends in electrification that tie into MaaS frameworks. Guy Carpenter's separate August study on EV accident data from Norway, the US and the UK found that EVs exhibit lower accident frequency than internal combustion engine vehicles, based on comprehensive datasets spanning millions of vehicles and billions of kilometers driven.
However, public EV fleet adoption rates vary, and the research specifies that EVs crash about 8% less frequently while showing approximately 8% higher severity in incidents compared to ICE vehicles. This data underscores evolving risk profiles as MaaS incorporates more electric options.
Public EV charging networks for private vehicles also show differences, with the study noting higher repair costs for EVs stemming from intricate components such as batteries and advanced electronics systems. These factors point to an initial phase in incorporating electric mobility into MaaS for several cities, prompting insurers to adapt coverage strategies.
The GC UK MaaS index delivers detailed, quantifiable data on MaaS readiness levels in UK cities.
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