At Q-Free we are proud to say that our solutions are all about making intelligent traffic systems that ensure safe and efficient transportation and reduce travel times for end-users. The result means direct and effective benefits for the environment in a time where the need for sustainable traffic solutions never has been greater.
Air pollution has become the fourth largest global killer causing 6.5 million deaths every year. The economic costs of health loss due to outdoor pollution can be estimated as well. The European Union annually spends 161 billion euros due to premature mortality caused by pollutants in the air. Realizing that nearly 70% of air pollution found in major cities around the world is from automobile exhaust makes it easy to understand that sustainable transportation is one of the most essential single factors for achieving development of more livable and prosperous cities and regions.
With the launch of United Nations’ sustainability goals in 2015, improved traffic solutions were stated as a global focus area, aiming to provide all citizens with access to safe, affordable and sustainable transport by 2030 while reducing the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by half by 2025. Q-Free’s operations are directly contributing to these global goals.
Did you, for example, know that the implementation of our congestion charging solutions in Stockholm and Gothenburg resulted in traffic reduction of 20 and 10 percent, improved travel time by 30 and 25 percent and reduced emissions by eight and five percent?
In addition, our parking guidance systems contribute to reducing 30 percent of traffic congestion linked to people spending time searching for parking by efficiently guiding people towards available parking spots.
We also improve timing of traffic signal changes, enabling large vehicles to pass through junctions without the traditional stop-start conditions and reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by approximately 30 percent compared to fixed traffic signal changes.
Did you know that our weigh-in-motion systems downsize the number of overweight trucks on roads, reducing particle pollution? And our bicycle and pedestrian solutions contribute to construction of more bicycle infrastructure which encourages “active” transportation.
In addition to the proactive contribution from our products and solutions, it’s also important for us to minimize the direct negative impact our operations have on the environment by ensuring that our company designs, manufactures, sells, and delivers its products and services with the smallest possible ecological footprint – in accordance with national and international environmental laws and regulations.
Did you know that in the transition from our transceiver RSE650 to RSE651, Q-Free was able to reduce the number of electronic components with 35%, reduce the total weight of material with 33% and remove the battery?
As one of the largest and oldest companies focused solely on ITS, it is no wonder that we are in the forefront on research into new technologies and new applications. We have done more than 30 projects aimed at improving safety and sustainability, and reducing pollution in city centers and improving safeties in neighbourhoods.
We are also a leading contributor to the ITS standardisation process. Not only do standards help interoperability so users only need one tag, and therefore reduce waste by the number of tags in a windscreen. More importantly, the new standards where Q-Free is taking a lead, are directly aimed at safety and sustainability in particular for smart cities. These standards are being written into EU directives which become national law, The aim of these laws are simple: Reduce accidents, reduce pollution and reduce congestion.
Q-Free is both certified in accordance with ISO-9001 and ISO 14001. While the ISO-9001 standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement, the ISO-14001 standard defines criteria for environmental management systems that improve resource efficiency, reduce waste, and reduce costs. As with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 acts both as an internal management tool and as a way of demonstrating a company’s environmental commitment to its customers and clients.
About Q-Free 
Q-Free is a leading global supplier of class-leading Tolling, Parking, Traffic Management and Connected ITS (C-ITS)/Connected Vehicle solutions. To us, a society with less congestion, pollution and accidents is achievable through smart and innovative transportation solutions. Our Parking Guidance systems are installed in over 350+ locations globally at airports, hospitals, convention centers, universities, transit stations, employee garages etc. reducing the hassle and traffic caused by drivers looking for parking, consequently helping the environment by reducing the carbon footprint. With one of the most flexible system approaches in the market, ranging from individual space sensor installations to budget friendlier per garage level/total space count installations, Q-Free can satisfy any customer requirement. Contact us today to see how we can help solve your parking problems!
