Conceptualizing environmental effects of carsharing services: A system thinking approach.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Urban Planning
• Transportation Engineering

Background:

• Carsharing services are increasingly integrated with urban transport systems, influencing energy consumption and emissions.
• Existing research on transport's environmental impact often lacks a systems thinking approach for carsharing.
• A comprehensive framework is needed to understand the complex interconnections between carsharing and environmental dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a conceptual framework for systematizing the environmental effects of carsharing services.
• To apply system dynamics modeling and causal-loop diagrams to visualize these interconnections.
• To propose strategies for reducing the environmental footprint of shared mobility.

Main Methods:

• System dynamics (SD) modeling was employed to simulate complex interactions.
• Causal-loop diagrams (CLDs) were used to illustrate the proposed framework.
• Analysis of causal loops within the CLD informed strategy development.

Main Results:

• Identified key causal loops influencing the environmental effects of carsharing.
• Developed a framework to understand the system-level impacts of shared mobility.
• Proposed lifecycle-based strategies to mitigate negative environmental consequences.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a novel systems thinking approach to carsharing's environmental impact.
• The proposed framework supports evidence-based decision-making for policymakers and practitioners.
• This research serves as a foundation for future simulation and analysis in shared mobility.