Area of Operation Planning for Free-Floating Car Sharing Systems

Abstract

Free-floating car sharing systems provide a convenient and flexible mode of transportation, enabling the efficient utilization of vehicles and space within cities. To ensure a high quality of service and customer satisfaction, it is crucial that the system’s operational area is well-covered by vehicles, allowing users to quickly locate a nearby car when needed. However, servicing a large area can be expensive. Therefore, optimizing the operational area is essential to achieve the best possible coverage with the given fleet. A case study of a Viennese electric car sharing system is presented, focusing on the optimization of future expansion strategies. The study utilizes a demand forecast derived from a national mobility survey and taxi trip data, employing a mixed integer linear programming model to plan the operational area. The objective is to effectively cover the expected demand. The results demonstrate that the model is highly efficient and flexible in adapting to different requirements.