How Trevalco pioneered the mobility budget with Mbrella?

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The mobility budget has proved an ideal solution for colleagues who like to cycle, prefer public transport whether or not in combination with a scooter or bicycle, or for colleagues who do not (yet) have a driver's license. Many employees still prefer to use a company car for various reasons (e.g. a young family with children), which is of course not a problem: after all, it is the employee who decides how he or she wants to travel to and from work. Changing taxation, rising prices and differing expectations mean that, as an employer, we want to offer our employees the necessary flexibility and options.

Rob Hanusa, an employee of Trevalco, decided to go for the mobility budget.

Trevalco asked him how this is going, and how he organizes his commutes?

How are you commuting?

On the days I go to the office, I take the train and my folding bike. I’m fortunate to live near to a station, and once I get to my destination it’s an 8km bike ride to the office. Most of the ride is on a bike path along a canal, so it’s normally quite enjoyable.

What is your main reason to choose a mobility budget over a company car?

I live in a city where having a car would not be particularly convenient. I already feel well connected by public transit, and I don’t have my own parking space anyway. Additionally, commuting to the office in traffic with a car wouldn’t be much quicker than my current train + bike commute. I also enjoy the extra bit of exercise I get with the bike.

Can you think of any improvements that could be made to the mobility budget to appeal to more colleagues?

The mobility budget works fantastically for me because of my living and commuting situations, so it’s hard to think of anything that needs to be improved. The financial benefits are great and I don’t feel I sacrifice much by not having a car. However, I realize that others may be in different circumstances that make biking and public transportation less practical. Nevertheless, I would suggest to anyone who can to try commuting by bike and public transit. For six years in my early career I was a daily car commuter, and I much prefer my current commute!

Which advantages of the mobility budget would you mention to convince a colleague to trade in his / her company car?

The mobility budget can be used for so much—not only public transit, but also car rentals and bike gear (and in some cases, your monthly rent!) The broad scope makes it quite easy to use. And if you don’t use the whole budget, any remaining part is paid back to you at the end of the year, albeit after some taxes. Considering that train passes are relatively cheap compared to a car, the remaining budget can add up to quite a sum!

Written by
Elien Verheye
Published on
June 30, 2023

FAQs

Every question has an answer. Can't find the answer to your question? Let us know!

Are there restrictions to the federal mobility budget?

The federal mobility budget can not exceed 20% of the total gross wage of the employee (gross wage + all other benefits, but no holiday payment). Besides this the federal mobility budget can not be higher than 16.293 euro and not lower than 3.055 euro (figures of 2024).

What does Mbrella do?

Mbrella is the first corporate mobility solution that is designed to empower employees and unburden HR professionals completely. We offer software that helps you manage mobility budgets, commuting allowances, public transport subscriptions and much more.

How much does Mbrella cost?

Currently Mbrella offers 3 packages of 45, 90, 250 eur per month for respectively up to 10, 50 and 100 users on the platform.

What are the benefits of Mbrella for HR?

Mbrella is the first corporate mobility solution that is designed to empower employees while unburdening HR professionals completely. Mbrella enables employees to compose their own ideal mobility mix and monitor their allocated budget on the go through an intuitive mobile app. Our integration with your payroll provider ensures correct remuneration. Fair & flexible compensation packages with no admin, what’s not to like? On top of that, you can track the total impact of your company’s efforts with our Carbon Tracker.

How to calculate the federal mobility budget?

To calculate the allowed mobility budget, you need to determine the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of the company car. This including all related expenses such as purchase or lease price, fuel, insurance, maintenance, taxes, and depreciation. You can use the actual costs formula or the lump-sum formula. The chosen calculation method should be used consistent within your company. Mbrella can help you calculating the TCO.

Is my employee eligible to receive the federal mobility budget?

Employees eligible for the Federal mobility budget must either have a company car or be eligible for one under their employer's (car) policy. The previous waiting period requirement has been removed, allowing immediate eligibility. However, the mobility budget can only available if the employer meets some requirements (See "Is my company eligible to offer the mobility budget?")

Is my company eligible to offer the federal mobility budget?

Companies eligible for the mobility budget must meet specific criteria. Primarily, they need to have made one or more company cars available to their employees for an uninterrupted period of at least 36 months immediately before implementing the mobility budget. This eligibility ensures that the mobility budget can serve as an alternative to the company car system, promoting more sustainable transportation options.

What is the federal mobility budget?

The Federal mobility budget is a flexible system allowing employees to exchange their (right to a) company car for a budget. This budget can be spent on eco-friendly cars, sustainable transport options, and housing costs. Unused budget can be received as cash at the end of the year at a favorable tax rate. This offering tax benefits and promoting sustainable mobility.