Observed Patterns of Free-Floating Car-Sharing Use

Natalia Fabra, Catarina Pintassilgo and Mateus Souza

CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series from University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany

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.

Keywords: Car-sharing; shared mobility; road congestion; electric vehicles. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q52 R41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 41
Date: 2024-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dcm, nep-ene, nep-res, nep-tre and nep-ure
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Journal Article: Observed patterns of free-floating car-sharing use (2024)
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