Life-Cycle Break-Even Analysis of Electric Carsharing: A Comparative Study in China

Jingjing Jia, Shujie Ma, Yixi Xue and Deyang Kong
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Jingjing Jia: School of Business, Shanghai Dianji University, Shanghai 201306, China
Shujie Ma: School of Automotive Studies, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China
Yixi Xue: School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
Deyang Kong: School of Automotive Studies, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 16, 1-29

Abstract: Electric carsharing (ECS) is a potential option to address the problem of unsustainability in the transportation sector. The business-to-consumer model of ECS, which is one of several different electric carsharing models, has gained much popularity in recent years. Generating sufficient revenue to cover costs is a critical factor for ECS companies to maintain healthy development. This study makes an economic analysis, on the basis of life-cycle cost and monetary revenue associated with the operation of ECS, of two Chinese ECS companies: EVCARD and LCCS. Based on data gathered by field investigation, this study aims to determine the break-even moment for each company’s main vehicle models by means of the net present value method. The results show that EVCARD achieved an earlier break-even moment than LCCS. The break-even moment of Chery eQ of EVCARD was the shortest of all the vehicle models, at only 181.3 min. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to portray how different cost-related and revenue-related factors influence the break-even moment. Our findings indicate that a wide difference exists in terms of the influence of different factors on the break-even moment. Among these, the manufacturer’s suggested retail price is the most influential variable, followed by the unit rental price. The reaction of the break-even moment to the market price of a charging pile and the non-rental revenue per vehicle—especially the latter—was found to be negligible in the sensitivity analysis.

Keywords: electric carsharing; break-even moment; life-cycle cost; sensitivity analysis; EVCARD; LCCS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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