Second Generation Car-sharing: Developing a New Mobility Services Target Groups and Service Characteristics

Dr. Bodo Schwieger describes the implementation and evaluation of an innovative service: One-Way and Open-End Car-Sharing. A field test offered gasoline vehicles in a One-Way rental scheme within an urban environment: 25 Smart vehicles were based at 8 stations and available to 4,000 car-sharing customers. This service is being analyzed for efficiency and customer reactions. In a second step, other car-sharing companies in Hamburg (Germany), Seattle (Washington), Kyoto and Tokyo (Japan) are analyzed for their approaches to improving their services. Car-sharing has recently become a highly relevant topic with the fast expansion of major providers such as car2go, DriveNow and Quicar. The author applies the methods of ?service engineering?. This approach combines technological competence, marketing know-how and customer analysis. This book delivers densely accumulated information for anyone who is involved in introducing and developing new services, either within transportation or related branches. The book is based on the author?s dissertation at the Technical University of Berlin.