A current study by RISE and City of Stockholm, conducted within the MEISTER project, indicates that free-floating electric car-sharing often complements public transport and reduces the need for urban citizens to have their own car. Moreover, the study shows that free-floating electric shared cars have a higher occupancy rate than average cars in Stockholm. Consequently, electric car-sharing services could contribute substantially to more energy- and resource-efficient urban mobility.
A majority of participants in the study state that the main reason for their use of free-floating shared cars is that it allows them to swiftly and spontaneously find an available car nearby. However, the cars are not charged in the on-street parking spots where customers like to find them. Keeping free-floating shared cars charged and available to customers is a challenge. A conclusion from the study is that to create supportive conditions for electric car-sharing, close collaboration between charging providers, carpool providers, and urban planners is imperative.
The study is available to download here.
Photo credits: Aimo