Energy communities’ role in equitable electric carsharing: A Dutch case study

Low-income car-dependent individuals experience several barriers to attaining and sustaining car mobility and shared mobility services. Energy communities adopting community-based shared electric vehicles (EVs) can potentially establish equitable shared mobility practices. This study evaluates the energy communities’ role in providing equitable shared EVs for this disadvantaged group. Based on a case study containing 31 Dutch energy communities adopting community-based electric carsharing, the research aims to understand and explore cross-case equity patterns concerning energy communities’ provision of shared EVs for low-income car-dependent individuals. It focuses on three key equity aspects, namely accessibility (consisting of geographic proximity and personal access), affordability, and community control. Accessibility is measured by estimating household composition within proximity to community-based shared EVs through catchment areas and areal interpolation methods and a k-means cluster analysis to identify regional (in)equity patterns. Furthermore, patterns concerning practices related to personal access, affordability, and community control are identified through website content analysis. The main results indicate that Dutch energy communities currently show several (in)equity patterns concerning the accessibility, affordability, and community-control of community-based shared EVs for low-income car-dependent individuals. These patterns have specific implications for community-based shared EVs addressing low-income car-dependent individuals needs in rural and urban contexts. These findings highlight the need for local governments and policymakers to consider various regulatory and policy instruments to facilitate more equitable community-based carsharing practices.