Understanding the potential for scaling up car sharing: a case study of Utrecht

Abstract

This research examines the potential for scaling up car sharing in the context of sustainable mobility transitions with a focus on identifying the challenges and opportunities. Drawing on insights from the multi-level perspective, the impact of external landscape and regime developments on car sharing are examined. Furthermore, the three internal niche processes crucial for the successful diffusion of the innovation are explored: network formation, learning processes and voicing of expectations. Utrecht presents a case study where car sharing is no longer in the experimentation phase, but it has not yet managed to scale up. Semi-structured interviewed were conducted with experts and stakeholders involved in car sharing, including three car sharing operators, the municipality, external consultants and the national government. Interviews revealed that the main challenge will be to erase the knowledge gaps in the areas that are crucial for car sharing to scale up. These include information about car sharing users and their travel patterns as well as the larger-scale impacts and dynamics of car sharing in the city. In order to achieve this, the municipality is best positioned to take a bigger role as network manager, to provide guidance for the research agenda and coordinate the exchange of information between stakeholders. The results of the study provide insights to policymakers on the do’s and don’ts of carsharing policy.