Potential of promoting electric vehicle-sharing services for tourists in Japan’s nonurban destinations

Abstract

Electric mobility is a potential solution to address the environmental challenges posed by climate change. In addition, car-sharing can serve as a solution to local problems, such as traffic congestion and parking pressure in nonurban areas. Although electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more common in car-sharing fleets globally, the momentum is less prominent in Japan. In this study, the potential of EV sharing to serve domestic tourists in Japan’s nonurban areas was investigated by examining tourists’ choices in transportation mode to reach their destinations and the use of EV sharing after arrival. A hybrid choice model was specified to analyze the effects of observed and latent factors on tourists’ behavior. Although the analysis results generally indicate strong obstacles to EV sharing, reducing the cost of access to EV-sharing services in nonurban areas where public transportation and parking services are limited could increase potential demand.