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Modelling the effect of different pricing schemes on free-floating carsharing travel demand: a test case for Zurich, Switzerland

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Abstract

Fundamental changes are continuing in the carsharing industry and the rapid diffusion of free-floating carsharing is one of them. The increased size of the operators and the more frequent occurrence of direct competition among them will likely make carsharing pricing a more important issue. The problem of how carsharing demand varies with different pricing strategies is the subject of this paper. An urban-scale and activity-based state-of-the-art multi-agent modelling framework was employed to evaluate alternative pricing strategies. Based on this analysis, findings suggest that pricing strategies may induce structural changes in the spatial and journey-purpose profiles of carsharing usage, and, in addition, impact aggregate demand levels and how they are distributed diurnally. The metropolitan area of Zurich, Switzerland was used as case study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Transport Planning and Systems (IVT), ETH Zürich, Stefano-Franscini-Platz 5, 8093, Zurich, CH, Switzerland

    Francesco Ciari & Milos Balac

  2. Senozon AG, Schaffhauserstrasse 331, 8050, Zurich, CH, Switzerland

    Michael Balmer

Authors
  1. Francesco Ciari
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  2. Milos Balac
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  3. Michael Balmer
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Correspondence to Francesco Ciari.

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Ciari, F., Balac, M. & Balmer, M. Modelling the effect of different pricing schemes on free-floating carsharing travel demand: a test case for Zurich, Switzerland. Transportation 42, 413–433 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11116-015-9608-z

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