Enabling customers to make the most of their time while their car is being serviced, independent Porsche dealership Autofarm recently began offering a complimentary travel service to and from a nearby luxury outlet mall.

Rather than waiting out the four-hour car service at the garage, Autofarm will arrange for customers to be driven the four miles to and from Bicester Village to enjoy its outlet boutiques and restaurants. According to Autofarm, the service is designed to cater to the growing number of female Porsche owners, especially mothers. Autofarm’s Workshop Manager, Robin Bartholomew explains: “Getting the car serviced often falls to the lady of the house. Children understandably get bored waiting, but this provides an opportunity to go somewhere suitable, rather than being trapped in a car showroom or workshop waiting room.”

It takes little tread off Autofarm's tires to offer the service, which provides a substantial value to their customers and is a great example of what our sister site would call a brand butler offering—something extended to consumers that helps make their lives easier and more enjoyable. How can your brand drive customers to new heights of satisfaction...? ;-) (Related: Hotel perks for Mercedes drivers – Fiat offers electric bikes as loaner vehicles — Volvo dealership loans bikes instead of cars.)

Website: www.autofarm.co.uk
Contact: porsche@autofarm.co.uk

The internet may have already brought new transparency, accountability and ease to myriad aspects of consumers' lives, but auto repair is not typically among them. Aiming to provide an alternative to the time-consuming process of driving from shop to shop collecting estimates, DentBetty is an online system that lets users upload photos of the damage to their car and receive competing bids from local repair shops in return.

Structural damage typically requires a physical inspection for a realistic estimate, DentBetty notes; for that reason, it focuses on dings, dents, scrapes and scratches instead. Users begin on the free system, which is currently in beta, by simply entering their ZIP code and uploading at least two photos of the damage to their car. Local auto body shops can then examine the photos and come up with bids for getting the repair done. Whenever a shop makes an estimate, DentBetty notifies the user by email; all estimates received so far (up to the maximum of seven) are presented together on a personal DentBetty page. The DentBetty Quality Scoreboard, meanwhile, keeps a running record of consumer feedback and other information about the various vendors involved to help consumers evaluate their reliability. When the consumer selects a bid, he or she then contacts the shop directly to schedule an appointment.

There are currently more than 100 shops nationwide in the DentBetty Network, each prescreened against DentBetty’s rigorous standards. Such members get notified every time a new consumer within driving distance requests an estimate. Since some repairs are difficult to estimate by photo alone, shops can indicate a level of confidence along with their bid. DentBetty's staff also prescreens every photo to make certain that it's from a legitimate consumer—“not just some teenager having fun with his camera.”

Of the USD 36 billion spent each year in the US on collision repair, some USD 3 to 5 billion takes the form of out-of-pocket expenditures for cosmetic damage. One to partner with or emulate in other parts of the world? (Related: Home-repair bidding site prescreens contractors — Premium tire chain focuses on transparency.)

Website: www.dentbetty.com
Contact: thebetty@dentbetty.com

Regular Springwise readers may recall Brightstorm, the company we covered back in 2008 that offers an online video network designed to help teens prepare for college. Aiming to update drivers ed with a like-minded dose of technology for today's digitally savvy youth, New York-based Fresh Green Light combines simulators and online tutoring with on-the-road instruction.

Billing itself as a driving school for the 21st century, Rye, NY-based Fresh Green Light serves multiple communities in Westchester County with its updated driving lessons incorporating driving simulators, behind-the-wheel driving lessons and online instruction. Its full USD 1,495 package aimed at beginning teen drivers, for instance, includes four 90-minute sessions on a state-of-the-art driving simulator, which lets students experience routine and extreme driving situations without risk to themselves or others. New drivers learn how to drive in rain, snow, fog and darkness on both suburban streets and highways; they also experience the consequences of texting while driving, going too fast or running a red light. Seven 90-minute lessons behind a real wheel are also included, as are an online skill-building program, a 5-hour DMV pre-licensing class, the DMV road test and an online insurance-reduction program. Also available from Fresh Green Light are smaller-scale packages for more advanced teen drivers as well as focused skill drills and a la carte options for drivers of all ages.

If anything, today's teens rely even more heavily on online oxygen than the rest of us do, so it makes good sense to adapt drivers education accordingly. One to partner with or emulate in other parts of the world? (Related: Greener drivers ed — Using video games to make seniors safer drivers.)

Website: www.freshgreenlight.com
Contact: info@freshgreenlight.com

Insurance companies, courts and lawyers all require detailed depictions of traffic accidents to successfully resolve claims for compensation. Currently in public beta, AccidentSketch is a free online tool that allows users to graphically document car accidents with ease.

Using a simple drag and drop template system, recreating the circumstances of a collision using AccidentSketch is much like putting together pieces of a puzzle. First, road 'pieces' are added to a grid to create an accurate depiction of the road, including curves, intersections and more. Next, vehicles are placed on the road map, with specification of vehicle colours and inputting of license plate numbers optional. Final details are then added, such as bicycles, pedestrians, traffic signs, lights, arrows and braking marks. AccidentSketch also allows users to create a text report explaining the details of the accident. The finished sketch can be printed out or downloaded as a PDF file.

Developed by German claim management services provider ClaimMS, AccidentSketch makes consumers' lives easier at a time when they need it most. Insurance companies: one to partner with? (Related: Smartphone app serves as video "black box" for cars — iPhone app helps State Farm users submit a claim.)

Website: www.accidentsketch.com
Contact: info@claim.ms

Spotted by:  R. Stein

It's no secret that vehicles are an excellent medium for advertising, as evidenced by all the carvertising initiatives we've seen in recent years. Now targeting small business owners, Ford has kicked off an effort of its own to help turn its Transit Connect trucks into billboards on wheels.

Inspired by a site Ford launched last November to help consumers customize their cars, the new effort aims to bring similar capabilities to those in the commercial realm. Specifically, Ford's new online program lets owners of the business-focused Transit Connect truck create their own custom graphic wraps. Users can tap an online library of shapes, lettering and colors that can be manipulated in a number of ways; they also can upload their own images and incorporate them into the design. Nine different graphic sizes are available, all made of 3M vinyl and installed by the Ford dealer or a specially trained installer. Costs range from about USD 100 for a small panel logo to USD 3,500 for a full vehicle wrap.

Indeed, whether it's individual consumers or small business owners, anything that makes it easier to spend wisely could only be a good thing. One to try out on your own Transit Connect—or, to help emulate for other small trucks, vans and delivery vehicles...? (Related: Marketplace for consumers willing to wrap their cars in ads for cash — Sticky car art with a crowdsourcing twist — Web simulator for 'trying on' real tattoos.)

Website: www.fordtransitconnectgraphics.com
Contact: support@fordtransitconnectgraphics.com

Spotted by: Judy McRae

If there was any doubt that peer-to-peer car-sharing is an idea whose time has come, surely those fears can now be put to rest. After reporting on the emergence of such services in the United States and then Australia, we were interested to note recently that a similar offering has just launched in the UK.

Much like the other contenders we've seen, WhipCar enables London car owners to rent out their cars while they're not using them. There is no registration fee to use the site's online booking system, and owners set their own prices. WhipCar notifies owners by text and email when there is an approved driver in their area who wants to use their car; both cars and drivers are screened by WhipCar before a booking is completed. Every trip, meanwhile, is fully insured through a comprehensive insurance package that temporarily replaces the owner's existing insurance for the duration of hire. Following the end of a rental, both owners and drivers have the chance to rate each other.

By matching up car-owning sellsumers with transumers and others who don't have their own, peer-to-peer car-sharing services seem to be creating a win-win for everyone involved. Entrepreneurs in other parts of the world: how about you...?

Website: www.whipcar.com
Contact: hi@whipcar.com

Spotted by: Adam Garrett

When we wrote about Fiat's ecoDrive software back in 2008, we noted that it would be even more helpful to offer fuel-efficiency feedback in real time, rather than on a PC after the fact. Now gearing up to offer just that is Ford, which has developed technology that helps “coach” drivers on the road to optimize their miles per gallon.

Building on the coaching concept Ford pioneered on its SmartGauge with EcoGuide cluster for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, among other cars, MyFord Touch enables drivers to monitor and track their vehicle's real-time fuel economy performance and mile-per-gallon averages for the past five, 10 and 30 minutes. A bar chart next to the car's fuel gauge displays those averages, and drivers can customize the amount of information provided. MyFord Touch's map-based navigation system, meanwhile, offers an EcoRoute option that quickly calculates the most fuel efficient route a driver can take to get from point A to point B. Typically, that Eco-Route charts a course that avoids congested freeways while maximizing the use of major roads on which the driver can maintain an efficient rate of speed. When Ford of Europe engineers tested the feature, they achieved up to a 15 percent improvement in fuel economy, the company says. A video demonstrates the EcoRoute feature in action. MyFord Touch launches this summer on the 2011 Ford Edge and will be available globally on the 2012 Ford Focus; pricing has not yet been announced. The feature will also be standard on new Lincoln vehicles beginning with the 2011 Lincoln MKX.

Brand butlers can serve consumers in many ways, but on cars, the most relevant and useful today is surely fuel efficiency. Won't be long before this one becomes hygiene on the road, we'd predict. And what about the home? Household brands large and small—how about creating a brand butler of your own that helps consumers save energy where they live? (Related: Smart devices help households monitor their energy use — Smart thermostat is always online — Home energy monitoring, delivered by Google.)

Website: www.ford.com
Contact: www.ford.com/owner-services/customer-support/contact-ford

Few things please us more here at Springwise than seeing a good idea spread, and recently we had occasion to observe just that. Similar in many ways to RelayRides, which we covered earlier this year, DriveMyCar is bringing the P2P car-sharing concept to Australia.

DriveMyCar is an online rental marketplace that facilitates private car rentals for a weekend, a week, a month or even a year. Car owners begin by listing their car online—the fee is AUD 25 per car per year, and each listing can include up to 5 photos as well as specifying the minimum acceptable driving history for prospective renters. Those seeking to rent a car, meanwhile, can join for free and immediately begin browsing through the hundreds of options available throughout Australia. When a prospective renter books a car, the owner receives a booking notification via email and SMS; he or she can then view the driver's profile—which includes a record of their driving history—and accept or reject it. If the request is approved, DriveMyCar automatically generates a lease-out agreement. Renters pay an AUD 20 booking fee when their request is accepted, while owners are responsible for a 15 percent commission on the total rental value, which varies with the make, model and year of the car; that commission and the cost of DriveMyCar's motor fleet insurance are both included in the advertised rental price. Renters pay owners directly for use of the car, but DriveMyCar is available to intervene in cases of accidents or nonpayment. Owners can also rate drivers following the rental period; the better a driver's track record, the lower the insurance rates he or she gets charged next time.

Sellsumers have already begun looking to their other possessions as sources of income, so it makes perfect sense to see their cars included. Who will be first to establish peer-to-peer car-sharing in *your* neck of the woods? (Related: Site helps neighbours share tools & equipment — Parking operator launches car-sharing service — More ways for consumers to rent out unused space.)

Website: www.drivemycarrentals.com.au
Contact: www.drivemycarrentals.com.au/enquiries.asp

Spotted by: Jeremy Colless

We've seen a few different efforts to document the world through auto-snapping cameras—including both Yahoo's photo-based marketing campaign and Vicon's life-caching device—but recently we came across one that adds video to the picture, so to speak. DailyRoads Voyager is a free application for Android-powered mobile phones that enables continuous video recording from moving vehicles.

DailyRoads Voyager is intended to serve as what's essentially a video black box for cars, recording everything but allowing users to keep only what they're really interested in. Whether it's an encounter with unusual wildlife in the road or the sequence of events leading to an accident, the application works in the background to timestamp, geotag and save all videos on the SD card; as space fills up, it automatically deletes the oldest ones unless they've been tagged for longer-term storage. DailyRoads Voyager can also take still photos at user-selectable intervals; whichever format is used, it can upload all recorded material in accordance with the user's preset specifications. The accumulated files can then be easily managed, played back and grouped in selections.

For now, Romanian DailyRoads is still beta-testing the Voyager application. Integration with YouTube, Picasa, Flickr and others is coming soon, the company says. App-dev entrepreneurs: who will build the first interface for seamless accident reporting...? And insurance companies: how about partnering with them? (Related: iPhone app helps State Farm users submit a claim.)

Website: www.dailyroads.com/voyager/
Contact: www.dailyroads.com/contact.php

We've seen a couple of different initiatives to provide drivers of electric vehicles with free power for their cars—both at a McDonald's and at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport—but as such vehicles become more widespread, efforts like that are unlikely to remain sustainable. Recognizing the need for a formal charging infrastructure, SemaConnect has developed an automated solution that lets parking operators build, scale and manage a network of vehicle-charging systems.

SemaConnect offers a range of both pedestal-mounted and wall-mounted charging stations that enable electric cars and plug-in hybrids to connect effortlessly to a power source. Smart card authentication gives only authorized users access to charging, while cellular connectivity transmits transaction information to a remote server. The SemaCharge Network Management System, meanwhile, is a web-based system that allows infrastructure operators such as municipalities, utilities, commercial parking lot operators and apartment building managers to monitor and manage their network of charging stations, including metering, billing and demand response. The SemaCharge network also gives consumers the ability to track their usage and pay online.

As company founder Mahi Reddy recently told the Washington Post, “the notion that your landlord would install a socket so that you could get free juice is a fantasy. This is not like charging a cellphone." Maryland-based SemaConnect recently installed one of its first devices at the Loews Annapolis Hotel, the Post reports. Parking-lot operators around the globe: one to get in on early...? (Related: Parking operator launches car-sharing service.)

Website: www.semaconnect.com
Contact: en quiries@semaconnect.com

Spotted by: Susanna Haynie

UK law requires that children under the age of 12 travel with a booster seat to help avoid serious injury in the event of a collision, and similar laws apply in countries around the world. Normally made of hard plastic, these seats are bulky and difficult to transport, so many children go without proper safety provision when travelling in other people's cars, rental cars and taxis. Enter BubbleBum, an inflatable, safety-approved car booster seat, providing a lightweight, portable alternative to its cumbersome counterparts.

Launched in December 2009 and claimed to be a world's first, the patent-pending BubbleBum booster seats fold flat when deflated, making them easy to carry in rucksacks or handbags and convenient to take on holidays, school trips or car pooling. The BubbleBum booster seat is priced at GBP 24.99 and can be purchased through the company’s website.

BubbleBum is currently negotiating distribution deals with several large retailers in the UK, Ireland and North America, as well as a travel company. Given the increasingly mobile lifestyles of parents, the demand for travel-friendly child safety solutions is surely on the rise. Get on board now and strap in for a rewarding ride! (Related: For parents on the go, folding high-chair made of cardboard.)

Website: www.bubblebum.co.uk
Contact: info@bubblebum.co.uk

Spotted by: Mark Nagurski