Presentation by Martin Hovekamp (Mitfahrverband e.V.)
The “Mitfahrknopf” concept enables drivers to offer spontaneous ride-sharing directly from their vehicles. Using in-car data such as the current route and seat occupancy, ride offers can be shared in real time with driver consent via smartphone apps, open interfaces, or in-car apps. This system could scale to hundreds or thousands of live ride offers, demonstrating how connected vehicles can actively support sustainable mobility.
At its technical core, the system relies on the Amarillo REST API, which acts as a central aggregator and normalizer for carpool offers submitted across various platforms such as Pendlerportal.de, fahrgemeinschaft.de, and RideBee. By standardizing this data into feeds similar to public transport’s GTFS and GTFS-RT formats, it connects carpooling directly into local navigation portals, Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs), and broader Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) ecosystems.
Inside Software-Defined Vehicles, the Carpool Button functions via an in-car app or voice/UI interface powered by SDV middleware (utilizing COVESA VSS and Eclipse Velocitas standards). The system continuously monitors the vehicle’s route, destination, speed, and real-time seat occupancy. When a passenger along the route requests a ride, the system automatically detects the match, alerts the driver, and allows them to accept or decline via voice control or the touchscreen. Once picked up, passengers check in digitally using a QR code on the infotainment display, automatically updating the vehicle’s occupancy rate.
The presentation frames carpooling as an essential component for the future of mobility starting with human drivers today and eventually transitioning to autonomous vehicles. Demonstrated through prototypes on digital.auto as well as the “Auto Smartmeter” dashboard, the Carpool Button aims to evolve from a retrofitted assistance app into a standard, and eventually mandatory, in-car feature. The initiative is developed by Martin Hovekamp in cooperation with the non-profit Mitfahrverband e.V.
