The environmental impacts of car sharing: direct and indirect effects

The chapter examines the environmental impacts of car sharing (CS) by synthesising insights from literature, fieldwork and empirical research. While most studies highlight direct effects such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and decreased private car ownership, this chapter emphasises the importance of exploring indirect environmental implications, including changes in disposable income and consumption patterns resulting from CS activities. It identifies gaps in assessing consumption-related rebound effects and aims to guide more comprehensive environmental evaluations of CS. Key highlights include the observation that environmental assessments of CS typically focus on direct impacts, which vary greatly depending on factors such as travel distances, modal split, vehicle emissions, and occupancy rates. There is a significant lack of insight into indirect rebound effects related to changes in disposable income and subsequent consumption patterns. The chapter also explores broader economic implications, examining the effects on various economic sectors. It concludes that while CS offers clear environmental benefits, its net impacts are complex and influenced by behavioural, systemic and economic factors, necessitating comprehensive evaluations.