Understanding the factors affecting vehicle usage and availability in carsharing networks: A case study of Communauto carsharing system from Montréal, Canada

摘要

The novelty of carsharing as an alternative to private car in dense urban areas raises a number ofquestions regarding the logistics of operating a carsharing network. Subscribers of carsharing networkshave been growing at a fast rate in recent years. This increase was accompanied by more complexproblems due to changes in the demand and shortages in supply. This study seeks to determine the factorsaffecting vehicle usage and availability in the Communauto carsharing network in Montréal, Québec.Using data provided by the carsharing operator, a multilevel regression model focussing on vehicle usageand a logistic regression model focussing on vehicle availability were devised. The study determined thata number of factors have a major impact on either availability or usage. The number of vehicles parked ata station has the most effect on availability, with a great variation during the seasons. Vehicle usage isaffected by average vehicle age, and by member concentration in the vicinity of the station. The findingsfrom this research can be beneficial to transportation planners and engineers working with carsharingoperators to build or expand their network.