Extending car-sharing to serve commuters: An implementation in Austria

While representing an important element in the development of a sustainable transport system, car sharing, at least in its traditional form, is not useful for standard commuter trips during which vehicles remain largely idle throughout the day. In fact, such idling has been considered a crucial limitation in extending the potential of car sharing to date. We report the results of a national two-year field study on a commuter-adjusted version of car sharing. Here, a rail company offers (electric) cars to commuters in order to allow them access from their home to the nearest train station. At the same time, the rail company organizes the day use of the car by businesses such as postal services or mobile health care. We find the following evaluating costs, market potential, and environmental merits. The two previously separate users now share one car, with thus more efficient use of the capital stock “car” which allows covering of the additional overhead costs. The potential market is likely to be of sufficient interest for a national rail company operating in a country with a settlement structure such as that which exists in Austria. The environmental effect depends on the share of electric vehicles and the generation mix of electricity. •Rail company adjusted car-sharing system for commuters.•Even short-term potential of significant size•Field experiment indicated adequate incentive structure.•Positive environmental and economic implications enhance electric vehicle mobility.