Car-sharing Industry Research Articles

Stakeholders’ Perspectives on the Feasibility of Their Cooperation in the Carsharing Market: Evidence from Japan

This study surveys and analyzes the characteristics of the carsharing market in Japan, focusing on cooperation among the stakeholders in the Japanese market. Twenty-three individuals from 10 organizations associated with the carsharing industry were interviewed, including carsharing operators, rail operators, bus operators, and local and central government representatives from July to August 2010. The results show that the stakeholders recognize two types of carsharing: a primary-mode-based system and a secondary-mode-based system. No carsharing operator has any plan to cooperate with the other operators currently, and the perceptions and expectations of the operators are different from those of the national government. Although local governments have a willingness to promote carsharing, they find difficulties in doing so because they worry about uncertainties regarding the effects of carsharing. Finally, this study summarizes three potential cases where cooperation is required among stakeholders in the urban carsharing market.

Modelling the effect of different pricing schemes on free-floating carsharing travel demand: a test case for Zurich, Switzerland

Fundamental changes are continuing in the carsharing industry and the rapid diffusion of free-floating carsharing is one of them. The increased size of the operators and the more frequent occurrence of direct competition among them will likely make carsharing pricing a more important issue. The problem of how carsharing demand varies with different pricing strategies is the subject of this paper. An urban-scale and activity-based state-of-the-art multi-agent modelling framework was employed to evaluate alternative pricing strategies. Based on this analysis, findings suggest that pricing strategies may induce structural changes in the spatial and journey-purpose profiles of carsharing usage, and, in addition, impact aggregate demand levels and how they are distributed diurnally. The metropolitan area of Zurich, Switzerland was used as case study.

Modeling Station-Based and Free-Floating Carsharing Demand

Carsharing, in any form, is still growing around the world. One of the effects is the increasing number of cities in which multiple carsharing operators are competing. The carsharing industry has never been as competitive as it is now: the present is a good time for researchers to invest efforts in providing tools for the assessment and planning of carsharing programs. Nevertheless, efforts in this direction are still scarce, in particular for some of the newest forms in which carsharing has been implemented, such as free-floating carsharing. This paper reports on a study that made use of MATSim, an agent-based simulation software that had already been used to model station-based carsharing, to evaluate different carsharing scenarios for the city of Berlin. The main findings are the existing high potential to extend carsharing services further in Berlin and the apparent complementarity of station-based and free-floating carsharing. On the methodological level, the work introduces a new tool for the modeling of free-floating carsharing along with improvements of the previously existing station-based carsharing model.

Residential On-Site Carsharing and Off-Street Parking in the San Francisco Bay Area, California

This research explores the recent practice of connecting on-site car-sharing service with off-street parking standards in multifamily developments; the San Francisco Bay Area, California, is used as a case study. If implemented well, such a policy could help boost the carsharing industry and reduce off-street parking, which is often criticized as being over-supplied as a result of excessive off-street parking standards. In 2011, the authors surveyed all carsharing sites in the Bay Area and all new residential developments (completed after 2000) with on-site carsharing spaces. The results showed that a significant number of carsharing spaces were located on residential properties, but 70% of the spaces had been retrofitted into existing buildings. For the new developments, on-site carsharing did not result in a reduction in the amount of regular off-street parking. Interviews with 15 professionals from three stakeholder groups (planners, developers, and service providers) revealed that even though all the stakeholders were in favor of on-site carsharing at residential developments, three major barriers existed: a lack of incentives, the complexity of access design, and high transaction costs.

Car-sharing: a feasible business expansion at Hangzhou Omnipay?

Subject area Marketing, entrepreneurship, operations management, and transportation/logistics. Study level/applicability The case is suitable for junior, senior undergraduate and first-year graduate business classes. It can be used entirely in business classes in marketing, entrepreneurship, operations management, and transportation/logistics, and parts of it can be used for discussions in classes related to emerging economies/markets, environmental management, sustainability, and technology management. Case overview The case builds on the expansion plan considered by a young software company, called Hangzhou Omnipay located in the city of Hangzhou, China. Mr Chao, Vice President (VP) of Omnipay, is the main character of the case. He was aware of the current car-sharing industry leader – Zipcar headquartered in Boston and also identified multiple stakeholders in the city for decision making. By collaborating with a global student project team, Mr Chao collected a great deal of information and data. This teaching case provides students and educators ample opportunities to examine, from a multitude of aspects, the viability of a car-sharing service in Hangzhou. Expected learning outcomes The central goal is to help students gain a comprehensive understanding of the role of car-sharing service in a country's development in sustainability, socio-economy, environmental commitment, and new urban life style, as well as in a technological company's active pursuit of business expansion opportunity. In addition, students will not only understand the social, cultural, technological and strategic perspectives of car-sharing service implementation, but also develop and enhance analytic skills needed to conduct fundamental cost analysis, determine a base-line pricing scheme, and service location network design. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available, please contact your librarian for access.

Carsharing in Shanghai, China

The rapid motorization of China raises questions about the potential for alternative mobility solutions, such as carsharing (short-term auto use), used in developing megacities such as Shanghai. Demand for motor vehicles is increasing rapidly, but many aspects of urban transportation in Shanghai and in China more broadly separate the city and the center from other urban environments in which carsharing has thrived traditionally. For example, the taxi is much more prominent in the transportation systems of Shanghai and Beijing than in most North American and European cities. Carsharing tends to thrive in environments in which the broad population has experience with driving and automobile ownership. This experience is lacking in Shanghai. To evaluate carsharing's potential in Shanghai, the size and competitiveness of the taxi systems of key carsharing cities in Europe, North America, and Asia were compared. The analysis illustrated core distinctions between Shanghai and other major cities in which carsharing has thrived. To explore further the potential response of Shanghai's citizens to carsharing, a survey was conducted (N = 271) of a subpopulation in Shanghai from November 2010 to February 2011. The survey analysis showed that those interested in carsharing were younger, more likely to be educated, had longer commutes, and owned fewer cars than those with no interest in carsharing. This paper concludes with a discussion of this study's implications for the development of a carsharing industry in Shanghai.