Design and evaluation of a closed-group, electric residential car-sharing system - Findings from a case study in Munich, Germany

Private car ownership is responsible for high greenhouse gas emissions and has a high space requirement. In theory, car-sharing is the cleaner alternative. However, despite decades of car-sharing availability in Germany, adoption remains low, primarily due to a lack of perceived convenience and the uncertainty of vehicle availability. This study presents a novel, further developed car-sharing approach that could solve these issues. The tested approach is a fully electrified, closed-group residential car-sharing system implemented in a Munich apartment building over 9 months. The study evaluates behavioral shifts, user satisfaction, and system performance using a within-subject design, GPS tracking, and five survey rounds.The results are promising. The provided shared vehicles covered 72.1% of all motorized travel during the case study period and showed high user satisfaction. Participants valued the closed-group system's availability, cleanliness, and communication benefits. Most participants expressed a willingness to pay more for such a car-sharing system. However, limitations in vehicle range and capacity restricted the complete substitution of private cars, especially for long-distance trips and trips with high transportation needs.This case study demonstrates the possibility of residential car-sharing as a substitute for private ownership and offers practical insights for car-sharing providers and real estate developers. It highlights the importance of a diverse fleet composition, user-centered communication, and high vehicle availability to meet all mobility needs. • 28-month case study in Munich, Germany, testing a novel car-sharing approach • Detailed findings for designing new station-based car-sharing services • Case Study evaluation through GPS tracking and multiple surveys • Closed-group car-sharing showed big success as an alternative to private cars