Increasing Acceptance of Free-Floating Car Sharing Systems Using Smart Relocation Strategies: A Survey Based Study of car2go Hamburg

Abstract

Abstract. Rapid growth rates seem to indicate that recently introduced free-floating car sharing (FFCS) can mean a breakthrough for the car sharing idea. Like other vehicle sharing systems, FFCS systems face significant regional demand fluctuations. Thus, providers might have to reposition empty vehicles to not lose potential customers. However, this aspect has been hardly examined in research and practice. This study aims to investigate appropriate relocation strategies for this new type of car sharing systems regarding the case of car2go. For this purpose a survey based evaluation was conducted, new relocation strategies were developed, and a discrete-event simulation model for the evaluation with real time data from car2go was drafted. The results indicate that availability of cars is crucial for customer acceptance, but customers are open for smart relocation strategies. Furthermore, the developed simulation approach provides the basis for an in-depth analysis of various strategies with different objectives using a realistic demand forecast.

Planning and Design of Equitable Free-Floating Bike-Sharing Systems Implementing a Road Pricing Strategy

“…Free-floating BSS constitute a more flexible and spontaneous category of vehicle-sharing: they allow hiring and returning a bicycle very close to the demand points, without being forced to pass by a station before or after the ride [21]. The reason for this revenue redistribution choice lies in the fact that FFBSS represent a sustainable alternative of transportation that helps in the global reduction of traffic and emissions in urban realities.…”

Decision Support for Environmental-friendly Vehicle Relocations in Free- Floating Car Sharing Systems: The Case of Car2go

“…While the first two ideas might serve as an intuitive starting point, the third approach could lead to a deeper understanding of relocation requirements. It has been shown that the majority of car2go users is willing to walk up to 500 meters to start a ride with a car2go car [7]. This distance could serve as a diameter for demand areas within the operational area of FFCS systems.…”

“…This allows the operator to propose the user a change of his destination in return for a price reduction for his trip. Herrmann et al [7] conduct a survey among car2go users to derive potentially successful user-based relocation strategies.…”

“…First studies have been conducted in the USA and in Germany [2]. Since then researchers investigated the development of FFCS in comparison to conventional carsharing systems, studied the user behavior [9] strategies for operators [7] and the sustainability impact [2]. Millard-Ball et al [10] identify barriers in the use of car sharing.…”

“…1. Example distribution of cars in a FFCS system (snippet from a simulation model depicting available cars based on real-time data from car2go in Hamburg) Current empirical work [7] demonstrates that the majority of car sharing users will switch to an alternative public transportation mode or use a self-owned vehicle if they have to walk more than 500 meters to find a car sharing car. If they frequently make this experience, they will not accept this PSS as alternative to a self-owned vehicle.…”