peak-time charge

Before knowing about EcoWheel’s peak time charge, it is important for you to know, how EcoWheel works.

EcoWheel’s business model:

EcoWheel is an online marketplace for subcontractor drivers.

These drivers are independent and they are either self-employed (own their commercial vehicles), or work for an Operator who owns multiple cars.

Like you have an EcoWheel Ride app on your smartphone to book a cab, these drivers have a similar Driver mobile App on their smartphones.

We activate the Driver app after a thorough check of authenticity and conducting due diligence of the commercial & personal papers of the driver & operator.

These drivers decide their own time to log in to the EcoWheel Driver application and accept requests for rides from customers.

They may choose to remain logged out of the system as per their convenience.

Q: What is EcoWheel’s peak time charge?

EcoWheel’s peak time charge is a fare-rationalizing rule of using a multiplier X or a flat surcharge to the standard fares causing the fare to be higher than the standard fare during certain times the day; i.e. if X is 1.2 during some point of time then the standard fare will be multiplied by 1.2 to get the final fare.

Q: Why is there a need to apply a surcharge to my standard fare?

EcoWheel.co being a marketplace doesn’t control the number of vehicles online on its system/platform;

  • Drivers & operators are independent & work as per their convenience. During a normal day when demand & supply are met, there is no need to put an extra effort to pull the supply side of vehicles.
  • EcoWheel has observed that during certain times of the day, when more traffic is on the road, routine drivers tend to log out of the system to suit their convenience as there is no incentive for them to put in the extra effort. Similarly, when demand suddenly increases, not enough drivers might be available on the road. Customers might be inconvenienced by not being able to find cabs during such times.
  • As a system/solutions provider, EcoWheel has limited options to motivate the drivers and cater to the high demand timings & scenarios. EcoWheel has observed that the drivers are very sensitive to little extra earnings for their extra effort to stay logged in to our system.
    • EcoWheel applies an X multiplier or flat surcharge to the normal fare based on various situations and scenarios like a place of pickup, time of pickup, type of vehicle, demand situation, supply scenario, etc. Using advanced analytics, unique algorithm, past ride experiences, etc.
    • EcoWheel’s dispatching software calculates an appropriate surcharge to apply over and above the normal fare.

This enables EcoWheel to come up with appropriate incentives to drivers to make them stay logged in to the system for the additional earnings. This enables customers to get their much-needed service even during peak times when demand for cabs is high.

Q: how does the surcharge help my ride?

The peak time surcharge works in two ways:

  1. It motivates drivers to stay & serve for a longer time even during difficult hours of the day and when demand is high.
  2. It filters out the less needed rides hence making the vehicle available to those who really need a cab.

Transparency

EcoWheel is transparent about the rates.

  • EcoWheel makes sure that customers are aware of the dynamics of peak time charge and how it works. Whenever peak time charge is applicable;
  • Customers get a clear intimation, to confirm their intent to avail of the ride at a higher price than normal. The booking process is initiated only when they confirm;
  • Hence, if a customer wants to avoid that ride he/she may choose to do it, thus making the cab available to others who are in need.