TECHNOLOGY CONCEPTION OF CAR-SHARING

Abstract

The concept of car sharing is multi-layered. In the primary layer, individuals gain the benefits of private cars without the costs and responsibilities of ownership. Specifically, car sharing allows a member (such as a household or business) to access a fleet of shared cars and other types of motor vehicles as needed, paying a usage fee each time. This removes high fixed costs such as registration and third-party insurance, as most costs become both variable and lower. Vehicles are available to members more or less as required for any length of time (from one hour, up to several weeks or more) and at many points (dozens of locations in a city or even in other cities). So, instead of buying a car, people and/or companies, share a fleet of vehicles with usage costs dependent on the kilometres travelled and the period of time for which the vehicle is booked. In the second layer, car sharing helps the community reduce the number of trips and distances travelled by private cars. In the third layer, urban communities gain space for productive uses when space currently occupied by roads and parking is not expanded and communities also experience less air and noise pollution. A fourth layer is the involvement of motor vehicle manufacturers and those who maintain vehicles, who play a vital role in many successful car sharing organizations. The manufacturers benefit by being able to demonstrate innovative fuel-efficient vehicles.