Driving smart: Car2Go in Austin and beyond

Carsharing is a specific type of car rental allowing individuals or businesses to rent vehicles by the hour or minute. This service draws users who only need a car occasionally, allowing these individuals the benefits of private vehicle access without the demands of car ownership. Such organizations have shown that they have the potential to have a significant impact on transportation patterns and, once firmly established, land use patterns as well. Daimler Auto Group entered this market with Car2Go, a carsharing organization with a fleet composed entirely of Smart Fortwo vehicles. It began with a pilot program in Austin, Texas, providing several carsharing innovations. First, Car2Go allows one-way rentals, whereas other carsharing programs require that the vehicle be brought back to the place of rental. The flexibility and spontaneity Car2Go provides increase its appeal and will result in significantly different usage patterns than other existing carsharing programs. Car2Go also charges users by the minute instead of by the hour as other carsharing organizations do, meaning that short trips are very economically efficient. This analysis began before Car2Go launched to determine the likelihood of success for the program and it also looks at Car2Go’s pilot program and public operation.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.piarc.org/en/order-library/13949-en-Proceedings%20of%20the%20XXIVth%20World%20Road%20Congress,%20Mexico%20-%202011.htm
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of the World Road Association – PIARC.
• Corporate Authors:

  World Road Association (PIARC)

  La Grande Arche, Paroi Nord, Niveau 5
  F-92055 La Defense Cedex,   France 
• Authors:
  • Kortum, Katherine
• Conference:
  • 24th World Road Congress
  • Location: Mexico City , Mexico
  • Date: 2011-9-26 to 2011-9-30
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; References;
• Pagination: 15p
• Monograph Title: 24th World Road Congress Proceedings: Roads for a Better Life: Mobility, Sustainability and Development

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Case studies; Innovation; Sustainable transportation; Vehicle sharing
• Identifier Terms: Car2Go
• Uncontrolled Terms: Pilot programs
• Geographic Terms: Austin (Texas)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01502226
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 2840602679
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 23 2013 11:06AM