What will be the environmental effects of new free-floating car-sharing systems? The case of car2go in Ulm

• Published in: Ecological economics Vol. 70; no. 8; pp. 1519 - 1528
• Main Authors: Firnkorn, Jörg, Müller, Martin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15-06-2011; Elsevier
• Series: Ecological Economics
• Subjects: Automobiles; Baden-Württemberg; Car pools; Car-sharing; Car-sharing Environmental effect Free-floating system Public-private transportation Product-service system; Carbon emissions; Cooperation; Ecology; Economics; Environmental effect; Environmental effects; Environmental impact studies; Free-floating system; Germany; Markets; Ownership; Product–service system; Public–private transportation; Road traffic; Germany; Q55; Free-floating system; L90; Environmental effect; Product–service system; O33; Q53; Car-sharing; R40; Public–private transportation
• ISSN: 0921-8009; 1873-6106
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2011.03.014

The purpose of this paper is the discussion of the environmental effects of a free-floating car-sharing system operating in Ulm, Germany. The system, called car2go, allows users to take and leave vehicles at any point within the city limits. Thus opposed to traditional car-sharing, there are no fixed stations and in particular one-way trips of any length are possible without a booking requirement. Since this is the first free-floating system in operation, there is as yet no associated empirical research. Based on primary data from a survey, a model was developed to forecast the environmental impact of car2go. The prognosis considers the period of five years after the launch of car2go in 2009 and indicates a CO
2-reduction per average car2go-user. In addition, more than a quarter of the survey respondents stated that they may forgo a car purchase if car2go was offered permanently. By reaching a greater share of citizens than traditional systems, the results indicate that free-floating car-sharing systems could contribute to reducing private vehicle ownership in cities.
► This study discusses the environmental effects of a free-floating car-sharing system. ► The applied research design is a forecast, based on a quantitative survey. ► The results are similar per average car-sharing user compared to traditional systems. ► But through a higher market penetration more users are reached. ► Free-floating fleets could reduce car ownership in cities.