Technology Transfer

Advancing CarSharing with Electric Vehicles

Engineering Psychology analyses user barriers and develops user-centred assistance – The University of Lübeck and StattAuto are now launching their project E.CarSHare+

How can we realise the full potential of E-CarSharing in Schleswig Holstein? Which specific challenges are there for potential users, and what are the best appropriate concepts to assist?

Prof. Dr. Thomas Franke, Professor of Engineering Psychology at the Institute for Multimedia and Interactive Systems at the University of Lübeck, is launching the E.CarSHare+ project, in cooperation with StattAuto eG. Aiming to increase the potential of user-centered in E-CarSharing in Schleswig-Holstein, the project is funded by the Society for Energy and Climate Protection Schleswig-Holstein, with a budget of 150.000 euro.

The electrification of traffic by way of E-CarSharing brings with it considerable potential for positive effects on the environment, especially in Schleswig-Holstein. “The central question is, how can we design E-CarSharing as a mobility solution for as many people in Schleswig-Holstein as possible, in order to transfer as many passenger-kilometres from private cars to shared E-Cars”, says Prof. Franke. “For operators of CarSharing fleets, the maximised utilisation of their electric vehicles is a key factor for an economic success of E-CarSharing” says Hinrich Kählert, chairman of StattAuto eG.

In the E.CarSHare+ project, barriers to the increased use of E-CarSharing will be examined in a large-scale field study with a specific focus on Schleswig-Holstein. “We want to have an exact understanding of which user-related factors can be adjusted, so that the expansion and utilisation of E-CarSharing vehicles in Schleswig-Holstein can be optimally developed”, says Franke. Based on this, user-centred concepts for assistance can be developed, which accompany drivers in their behavioural change, thereby optimally simplifying learning and adaptation processes.

Reaching all mobile people with E-CarSharing

„In this project, we want to try innovative ways of exchanging information with current users of E-CarSharing vehicles and jointly develop methods to increase the potential of E-CarSharing”, says Franke. “At the end of the day, we want E-CarSharing to reach all mobile people in Schleswig-Holstein – be it rural or urban areas, be it for private or corporate mobility. To achieve this, we will be reaching out to other initiatives in the context of E-CarSharing in Schleswig-Holstein.”

StattAuto was one of the first providers of CarSharing in Germany and added its first two electric vehicles to the fleet in 2012. In 2018, the size of its E-Car fleet grew to 30. “Our objective now is to increase the use of these vehicles”, says Hinrich Kählert. “We are very glad to have the University of Lübeck as a partner, one with which we can effectively pursue our goals. The results of our collaboration will be of great importance to the successful operation of E-Cars in CarSharing Fleets - for us and for other CarSharing-Operators.”

The Society for Energy and Climate Protection Schleswig-Holstein (EKSH) with its program “University – Industry – Transfer”, supports projects in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, which address relevant questions on subjects like energy production, energy use and energy efficiency.