Observed Patterns of Use and Users of Free-Floating Car-Sharing Articles uri icon

publication date

  • June 2024

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1869-4187

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1869-4195

abstract

  • Free-floating car-sharing (FFCS) services allow users to rent electric vehicles by the
    minute without restrictions on pick-up or drop-off locations within the service area
    of the rental company. Beyond enlarging the choice set of mobility options, FFCS
    may reduce congestion and emissions in cities, depending on the service"s usage and
    substitution patterns. In this paper, we shed light on this by analyzing the universe
    of FFCS trips conducted through a leading company in Madrid during 2019. We
    correlate FFCS usage patterns with data on traffic conditions, demographics, and
    public transit availability across the city. We find complementarities between FFCS
    and public transport in middle-income areas with scarce public transport options.
    Moreover, we find that the use of FFCS peaks earlier than overall traffic and is broadly
    used during the summer months. This suggests that FFCS may have smoothed road
    traffic in Madrid, contributing to a reduction in overall congestion.

subjects

  • Economics

keywords

  • car-sharing; shared mobility; road congestion; electric vehicles