Abstract: A vehicle resource load in a shared-vehicle system 100 is balanced. A central home-station 104 is provided and allocated a number of vehicles 102. A number of day-stations 106 are associated with the central home-station 104 with facilities for docking and reenergizing the vehicles 102. The vehicles 102 are distributed to one or more of the day stations 106 via operation by distribution-users 108 with journeys originating from the central home-station 104 and terminating at the day-stations 106. The vehicles 102 are provided for limited term use by day-users 110 at the day-stations 106 with a requirement that the vehicles 102 be returned to the day-stations 106 by the end of a respective limited term. The vehicles 102 are returned to the central home-station 104 upon expiration of the limited term use via operation by the distribution-users 108 with journeys originating from the day-stations 106 and terminating at the central home-station 104.

Abstract: A locking and holding mechanism for a personal vehicle is composed of a connection device mounted to the vehicle and a receptacle mounted to a solid fixture. The receptacle is configured to directly receive and engage the connection device of the vehicle and, once received, the vehicle is locked to the receptacle held in a stable position. The connection device easily attaches a vehicle to a dock and enables a vehicle management system to charge, lock, hold in place and monitor the vehicle's presence when docked in a charge station. When docked in a charge station, if the status of the vehicle is altered unexpectedly the vehicle is equipped with communication equipment to alert the management system that the vehicle's status has changed. The apparatus identifies a user through an ID device and/or code. A user in good standing accesses a user interface via a communication gateway to secure access to a vehicle by electronically detaching the vehicle from the dock.