In recent years, energy prices have become increasingly more expensive and volatile. This trend has added to auto ownership costs and uncertainty about future operating expenses. Moreover, parking in many of the world’s largest cities is limited and costly further adding to private vehicle expenditures. Many nations worldwide have adopted carsharing (or short-term auto access) as a means to reduce personal transportation costs and the negative impacts of widespread auto use including: congestion, inefficient land use, energy consumption, and emissions. Knowledge of carsharing and advanced technologies to support its operations has spread throughout Europe and North America and into Asia and Australia. Together, these factors are influencing carsharing.
