SpringerLink
Log in

Modelling the effect of different pricing schemes on free-floating carsharing travel demand: a test case for Zurich, Switzerland

  • Published:
Transportation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fundamental changes are continuing in the carsharing industry and the rapid diffusion of free-floating carsharing is one of them. The increased size of the operators and the more frequent occurrence of direct competition among them will likely make carsharing pricing a more important issue. The problem of how carsharing demand varies with different pricing strategies is the subject of this paper. An urban-scale and activity-based state-of-the-art multi-agent modelling framework was employed to evaluate alternative pricing strategies. Based on this analysis, findings suggest that pricing strategies may induce structural changes in the spatial and journey-purpose profiles of carsharing usage, and, in addition, impact aggregate demand levels and how they are distributed diurnally. The metropolitan area of Zurich, Switzerland was used as case study.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Germany)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arentze, T.A., Timmermans, H.J.P.: Albatross 2: A Learning-Based Transportation Oriented Simulation System. European Institute of Retailing and Services Studies, Eindhoven (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  • ARE and BfS: Mobilität in der Schweiz, Ergebnisse des Mikrozensus 2010 zum Verkehrsverhalten. Bundesamt für Raumentwicklung; BFS Statistik der Schweiz, Neuchâtel (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  • Balmer, M., Axhausen, K.W.A., Horni, K., Meister, Charypar, D., Ciari, F.: Wirkungen der Westumfahrung Zürich: Eine Analyse mit einer Agenten-basierten Mikrosimulation, Final Report, Baudirektion Kanton Zurich, IVT, ETH Zurich, Zurich (2009)

  • Beck, C., Arentze, T.A., Int Panis, L., Janssens, D., Vankerkorn, J., Wets, G.: An integrated activity-based modelling framework to assess vehicle emissions: approach and application. Environ. Plan. B 36(6), 1086–1102 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beige, S., Axhausen, K.W.: Interdependencies between turning points in life and long-term mobility decisions. Transportation 39(4), 857–872 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bellemans, T., Kochan, B., Janssens, D., Wets, G., Arentze, T., Timmermans, H.: Implementation framework and development trajectory of FEATHERS activity-based simulation platform. Transp. Res. Rec. 2175, 111–119 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Akiva, M.E., Bierlaire, M., Koutsopoulos, H., Mishalani, R.: Real time simulation of traffic demand supply interactions with DynaMIT. In: Gendreau, M., Marcotte, P. (eds.) Transportation and Network Analysis: Current Trends, 19–36. Kluwer, Boston (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhat, C.R., Guo, J.Y., Srinivasan, S., Sivakumar, A.: A comprehensive econometric microsimulator for daily activity-travel patterns. Transp. Res. Rec. 1894, 57–66 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breitner, M., Klein, J.: In: S. Helber et al. (eds.), Operations Research Proceedings 2012, Springer International, pp 357–362 (2012)

  • Briggs, M.: FrostandSullivan. www.slideshare.net/FrostandSullivan/corporate-carsharing-3-1814 (2014). Accessed Sept 2014

  • Car2go. Car2go. www.car2go.com (2014). Accessed Jan 2014

  • Carsharing Berlin. Carsharing Berlin. www.carsharing-berlin.de (2014). Accessed Feb 2014

  • Catch-a-Car. Catch-a-Car. www.catch-a-car.ch/ (2014). Accessed Aug 2014

  • Cervero, R., Golub, A., Nee, B.: City CarShare: longer-term travel demand and car ownership impacts. Transp. Res. Rec. 1992, 70–80 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charypar, D., Nagel, K.: Generating complete all-day activity plans with genetic algorithms. Transportation 32(4), 369–397 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciari, F., Schuessler, N., Axhausen, K.W.: Estimation of carsharing demand using an activity-based microsimulation approach: model discussion and some results. Int. J. Sustain. Transp. 7(1), 70–84 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciari, F., Bock, B., Balmer, M.: Modeling station-based and free-floating carsharing demand: a test case study for Berlin, Germany. Paper presented at the 93rd Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., January 2014 (2013)

  • Ciari, F., Weis, C., Balac, M.: Evaluating the influence of carsharing stations’ location on potential membership: a Swiss case study. EURO J. Transp. Logist. (2015). doi:10.1007/s13676-015-0076-6

  • Dhondt, S., Beckx, C., Degraeuwe, B., Lefebvre, W., Kochan, B., Bellemans, T., Int Panis, L., Macharis, C., Putman, K.: Health impact assessment of air pollution using a dynamic exposure profile: implications for exposure and health impact estimates. Environ. Impact Assess. Rev. 36, 42–51 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DriveNow. 30‘000 Mitglieder in Berlin, press Communication, DriveNow (2012)

  • Firnkorn, J., Müller, M.: What will be the environmental effects of new free-floating car-sharing systems? The case of car2go in Ulm. Ecol. Econ. 70(8), 1519–1528 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haefeli, U.: Evaluation of Carsharing. Bundesamt für Energie BFE, Bern (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  • Knapen, L., Kochan, B., Bellemans, T., Janssens, D., Wets, G.: Activity based models for countrywide electric vehicle power demand calculation. In: Proceeding of IEEE SGMS’11, pp. 13–18 (2011)

  • Le Vine, S., Lee-Gosselin, M., Sivakumar, A., Polak, J.: A new approach to predict the market and impacts of round-trip and point-to-point carsharing systems: case study of London. Transp. Res. Part D 32, 218–229 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahmassani, H.S., Hu, T., Jayakrishnan, R.: Dynamic traffic assignment and simulation for advanced network informatics. In: Gartner, N.H., Improta, G. (eds.) Compendium of the Second International Seminar on Urban Traffic Networks (1992)

  • MATSim. MATSim. www.matsim.org (2014). Accessed Jan 2014

  • Millard-Ball, A., Murray, G., ter Schure, J., Fox, C., Burkhardt, J.: Car-sharing: where and how it succeeds, TCRP Report, 108, TRB, Washington D.C (2005)

  • Mobility Carsharing. Mobility. www.mobility.ch (2014). Accessed Aug 2014

  • Muheim, P.: Carsharing: The Key to Combined Mobility, Energy 2000. BFE Swiss Federal Office of Energy, Bern (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, M.: Ökonomische Analyse des Car-Sharing. Gabler Verlag, Wiesbaden (1995)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Prettenthaler, F.E., Steininger, K.W.: From ownership to service use lifestyle: the potential of carsharing. Ecol. Econ. 28(3), 443–453 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roorda, M.J., Miller, E.J., Habib, K.M.N.: Validation of TASHA: a 24-h activity scheduling microsimulation model. Transp. Res. Part A 42(2), 360–375 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  • Scherf, C., Steiner, J., Wolter, F.: E-Carsharing: erfahrungen. Nutzerakzeptanz und Kundenwuensche, Internationales Verkehrswesen 65(1), 42–44 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuster, T.D., Byrne, J., Corbette, J., Schreuder, Y.: Assessing the potential of carsharing: a new method and its implications. Transp. Res. Rec. 1927, 174–181 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simon, P.M., Esser, J., Nagel, K.: Simple queuing model applied to the city of Portland. Int. J. Mod. Phys. C 10(5), 941–960 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simma, A., Axhausen, K.W.: Commitments and modal usage: analysis of German and Dutch panels. Transp. Res. Rec. 1854, 22–31 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, L., Beckman, R., Anson, D., Nagel, K., Williams, M.E.: TRANSIMS: transportation analysis and simulation system. Paper presented at the Fifth National Conference on Transportation Planning Methods Applications, Seattle, April 1995

  • Shaheen, S., Cohen, A.: Carsharing and personal vehicle services: worldwide market developments and emerging trends. Int. J. Sustain. Transp. 7(1), 5–34 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steininger, K., Vogl, C., Zettl, R.: Car-sharing organizations: the size of the market segment and revealed change in mobility behavior. Transp. Policy 3(4), 177–185 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verhoeven, M.: Modelling life trajectories and transport mode choice using Bayesian belief networks. Dissertation, Faculteit Bouwkunde, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (2010)

  • Vrtic, M., Axhausen, K.W.: Experiment mit einem dynamischen Umlegungsverfahren. Straßenverkehrstechnik 47(3), 121–126 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, M., Martin, E.W., Shaheen, S.A.: Carsharing in Shanghai, China: analysis of behavioral response to local survey and potential competition. Transp. Res. Rec. 2319, 86–95 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waraich, R.A., Axhausen, K.W.: Agent-based parking choice model. Transp. Res. Rec. 2319, 39–46 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weis, C.: Activity oriented modelling of short- and long-term dynamics of travel behaviour. Dissertation, IVT, ETH Zürich, Zürich (2012)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Transport Planning and Systems (IVT), ETH Zürich, Stefano-Franscini-Platz 5, 8093, Zurich, CH, Switzerland

    Francesco Ciari & Milos Balac

  2. Senozon AG, Schaffhauserstrasse 331, 8050, Zurich, CH, Switzerland

    Michael Balmer

Authors
  1. Francesco Ciari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Milos Balac
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michael Balmer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francesco Ciari.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ciari, F., Balac, M. & Balmer, M. Modelling the effect of different pricing schemes on free-floating carsharing travel demand: a test case for Zurich, Switzerland. Transportation 42, 413–433 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-015-9608-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-015-9608-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation