Effects of e-mobility hubs in residential areas on car use and ownership

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the potential of mobility hubs to reduce car use and car ownership, and how this is affected by the car owner’s characteristics, the trip characteristics and the car owner’s living environment characteristics. To this end, two stated choice experiments were conducted and the data was analysed using extended multinomial logit models. The results showed that the shared e-car is preferred to the private car for commuting trips if the walking times and operational costs are attractive. The operational costs of shared mobility services and the walking distances to mobility hubs were found to be important factors for the use of shared mobility services. These two factors were also found to be important for the willingness to give up the private car and thus the choice for shared mobility services offered in mobility hubs for all trips. Sensitivity to operational costs was found to be higher for the shared e-car than for the shared e-moped and e-bike. Car owners preferred full e-car sharing if the private car was given up. Car owners had little preference for the use of shared e-mopeds and e-bikes. The density of mobility hubs in a residential area was found to have a strong impact on reducing car use and car ownership. Moreover, lowering the current operating costs was found to make the use of shared mobility services more attractive. The effects of mobility hubs on car use and car ownership were highest in the city centre, followed by the suburban area and lowest in a rural area.