Shared, Small, Battery-Powered Electric Cars as a Component of Transportation System Sustainability

Abstract

Six U.S. trends are explored that may change how transportation systems and resources are used: changing demographics; questions about the future of highway infrastructure and maintenance; greater interest in alternative means of transportation; growth of telecommunications technologies; movement toward “access to services” rather than “ownership of goods”; and renewed interest in urban living. It is believed that shared, small, battery-powered electric cars can provide high-quality, cost-effective mobility to replace trips made in conventional cars, offer a viable alternative for changing lifestyles resulting from these trends, and move our global transportation systems toward sustainability. Although this paper is primarily intended to stimulate discussion and suggest future avenues for research, descriptions and examples of shared-car systems using small electric cars that complement the six trends are included. Although the current effort has focused on North America, thinking is beginning to expand internationally because a sustainable transportation system is a global necessity. Any two of the six trends could well cause an evolution in the U.S. transportation system, but all six combined certainly will. Similar trends can be found in other developed countries. Developing countries face even more severe transportation problems due to lack of resources to solve these problems as they arise.