Electric Car Sharing in Bratislava — FlexiBee

Introduction

In recent years, Bratislava has been looking for ways to make urban mobility both greener and more convenient. One of those attempts was FlexiBee — a local electric car sharing project launched by INFOCAR. The idea behind it was simple: give city residents and office workers access to electric cars without the hassle of ownership, insurance, or maintenance.

FlexiBee focused on compact electric vehicles, a clear station-based model, and straightforward pricing. A user could pick up a car at a designated parking spot, drive to their destination, and return it to the same station. That structure guaranteed order and predictability, though it also meant less flexibility compared to free-floating services.

Unfortunately, the project has since been shut down. Still, the FlexiBee experience is worth examining — it became a noticeable part of Slovakia’s car sharing market and highlighted what worked well and what turned out to be limiting.

How FlexiBee Worked

FlexiBee followed a station-based concept. In practice, this meant:

• cars could only be picked up and returned at official parking stations (FlexiBod) near residential areas and business centers;
• trips could not be ended outside those stations;
• the fleet stayed under close control, and vehicles weren’t scattered randomly across the city.

This model worked best for people with set routines — office workers, students, and downtown residents. For them, it was more important to know a car would always be waiting at “their” station than to be able to leave it anywhere.

The Fleet

The fleet was made up of Renault ZOE electric cars. That choice was practical and intentional:

• Transmission: automatic, easy to handle for all drivers;
• Range: up to 300 km in warmer weather;
• Capacity: up to 5 passengers, suitable for solo use or small groups;
• Charging: only at dedicated FlexiBod stations;
• Recommended trip radius: around 70 km, perfect for city driving.

The ZOE fit Bratislava well — compact enough for tight streets, easy to park, affordable to run, and eco-friendly. The fleet’s design helped the operator balance sustainability, reliability, and day-to-day convenience.

Pricing and Rental Conditions

FlexiBee offered a transparent pay-per-minute system with different rates depending on the time of day.

Additional conditions:

• rentals were available in blocks of 30 to 240 minutes;
• reservations could be made up to 24 hours in advance;
• account registration cost 3 €;
• profile changes cost 2 €;
• a refundable deposit of 59 €, returned if the account was closed and no trips were active.

The pricing system was designed for disciplined users — clear and affordable, but with strict rules.

Fines and Restrictions

To keep things running smoothly, the operator introduced penalties:

• extending a trip beyond the agreed time — 1 € per hour;
• late return — 5 € fine + 0.40 € per minute;
• three or more violations could result in account suspension.

This approach ensured cars were available on time for other users, though some found the strictness discouraging.

Digital Infrastructure

FlexiBee had its own website and an Android app, but the digital side of the service turned out to be a weak spot.

No iOS app was ever released, and the Android version gained only limited traction. Reviews were generally positive but often mentioned the rigid return rules and the small service area.

By mid-2023:

• the website remained online for reference;
• the apps had disappeared from app stores;
• no official statements about the project’s future had been made.

These signs pointed toward either a shutdown or an indefinite pause.

Conclusion

FlexiBee was an interesting experiment for Bratislava: a green fleet, simple pricing, and the predictability of the station-based model. It solved the problem of short-term rentals in the city center and was especially useful for people with regular routes.

But the limitations — mandatory station returns, a restricted service area, and the lack of a proper iOS app — became its weak points.

For future projects in Bratislava, this experience can serve as a foundation. Key directions could include:

• partially shifting to a free-floating model;
• expanding the coverage zone beyond the center;
• offering more flexible rate packages (per-minute, hourly, daily);
• launching a full-featured mobile app for both Android and iOS.

FlexiBee may not have turned into a long-term success story, but it showed that Bratislava residents are ready for electric car sharing and value simplicity, order, and sustainability. The next services can build on that foundation, adding more flexibility and stronger digital tools.