Futuristic cityscape powered by renewable energy with integrated shared electric cars.

Can Carsharing Save the Planet? The Surprising Role of Electric Fleets in Renewable Energy

Beau Callahan in Climate & Environment June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore how electric carsharing is reshaping urban transportation and its unexpected impact on renewable energy integration, challenging the way we think about sustainable mobility."

As the world races towards a greener future, electrifying the car fleet has emerged as a central strategy for slashing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly from the passenger road transport sector. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) promise lower life-cycle emissions compared to their combustion engine counterparts, making them a key focus for policymakers and environmental advocates alike. With bans on the sale of new gasoline-powered cars looming in regions like the European Union and California, the shift to electric is gaining momentum.

However, electrification alone may not be the silver bullet. Addressing the broader negative impacts associated with car usage requires a reduction in the sheer number of vehicles on our roads. Enter electric carsharing—a model that aims to reconcile our car-dependent habits with the need for a smaller, more efficient fleet. Carsharing, especially in densely populated urban areas, not only reduces environmental externalities but also opens up valuable public space, transforming cities into more livable environments.

Electric carsharing also offers a unique opportunity to foster consumer adoption of electric vehicles, serving as a gateway for individuals to experience the benefits of EVs without the commitment of ownership. However, integrating shared electric fleets into the power grid presents both opportunities and challenges. While privately owned BEVs can provide flexibility to the grid through smart charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies, the increased usage of shared EVs may impact their potential to align grid interactions with variable renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.

The Balancing Act: Carsharing, Renewable Energy, and Grid Flexibility

Futuristic cityscape powered by renewable energy with integrated shared electric cars.

The integration of electric carsharing into a renewable energy landscape involves a delicate balancing act. On one hand, electrifying transport increases electricity demand, which amplifies the need for renewable energy sources. On the other hand, it may also boost power sector flexibility if BEVs are smartly charged or bidirectionally charged using vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies. BEVs can balance daily variations of solar power and reduce stationary electricity storage needs.

However, electric carsharing could potentially reduce the flexibility potential of BEVs due to their increased driving frequency. More frequent use translates to lower grid availability and a reduced aggregate battery capacity across the fleet, which poses a challenge to power sector flexibility.

Peak Load Management: BEVs can be used to shave peak loads and reduce the need for additional stationary electricity storage.
Grid Availability: Increased driving frequency can lower the availability of carsharing vehicles for grid interaction.
Battery Capacity: The overall battery capacity of carsharing fleets may be lower, affecting their ability to provide grid services.

To navigate this complex interplay, a recent study investigated the impacts of electric carsharing on a power sector dominated by variable renewable energy sources. The study combined sequence clustering of car travel diaries, the generation of synthetic electric vehicle time series, and power sector modeling to assess how electric carsharing affects power sector costs and renewable energy integration.

Navigating the Road Ahead: Policy Implications and Future Research

The study’s findings suggest that a shift to electric carsharing only moderately increases power sector costs, particularly with bidirectional charging. Overall, integrating shared electric car fleets can still align with renewable electricity generation, but the key lies in strategic planning and policy design. Encouraging system-oriented charging of shared electric car fleets is vital for maximizing their flexibility potential and supporting the integration of variable renewable energy sources. Further research is needed to comprehensively evaluate the interplay of different effects and optimize the design and operation of carsharing fleets and their charging infrastructure.

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This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.crsus.2024.100241,

Title: Impacts Of Electric Carsharing On A Power Sector With Variable Renewables

Subject: econ.gn q-fin.ec

Authors: Adeline Guéret, Wolf-Peter Schill, Carlos Gaete-Morales

Published: 29-02-2024

Everything You Need To Know

How does electric carsharing contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation?

Electric carsharing reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by promoting the use of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), which have lower life-cycle emissions compared to gasoline-powered cars. Moreover, carsharing reduces the total number of vehicles needed, addressing the broader negative impacts associated with car usage and supporting a more sustainable transportation ecosystem. While the focus is on GHG reduction, the broader benefits are often overlooked such as reduced traffic congestion and parking needs.

What role does electric carsharing play in the adoption of electric vehicles?

Electric carsharing serves as a gateway for individuals to experience the benefits of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) without the commitment of ownership. This allows potential adopters to become familiar with the technology, address any concerns about range or charging, and potentially increase their likelihood of purchasing an electric vehicle in the future. It accelerates the shift away from combustion engine vehicles.

How can electric carsharing impact the flexibility of the power grid, especially with renewable energy sources?

Electric carsharing can impact power grid flexibility in complex ways. While battery electric vehicles (BEVs) can offer flexibility through smart charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies, the increased usage of shared EVs may reduce their availability for grid interaction. More frequent driving translates to lower grid availability and reduced aggregate battery capacity across the fleet, which poses a challenge to power sector flexibility. Encouraging system-oriented charging of shared electric car fleets is vital for maximizing their flexibility potential and supporting the integration of variable renewable energy sources.

What are the potential benefits and challenges of integrating electric carsharing with renewable energy sources like solar and wind power?

Integrating electric carsharing with renewable energy involves balancing increased electricity demand with the need for grid flexibility. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) can balance daily variations in solar power and reduce the need for stationary electricity storage if smartly charged or bidirectionally charged using vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies. However, increased driving frequency in carsharing can lower the availability of vehicles for grid interaction and reduce the overall battery capacity available for grid services. This requires strategic planning to align carsharing operations with renewable electricity generation. Without proper planning the benefits of either could be muted.

What policy implications and future research directions are needed to optimize the integration of electric carsharing and renewable energy?

Strategic planning and policy design are crucial for maximizing the benefits of electric carsharing in a renewable energy landscape. Encouraging system-oriented charging of shared electric car fleets is vital for enhancing their flexibility potential. Future research should focus on comprehensively evaluating the interplay of different effects and optimizing the design and operation of carsharing fleets and their charging infrastructure. This includes understanding how to incentivize charging behaviors that support grid stability and renewable energy integration, and how to address the challenges posed by increased driving frequency on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) grid availability. There needs to be system level thinking instead of point solutions.