Ride sharing is a travel model where multiple passengers share a vehicle for all or part of a trip to reduce cost, congestion, and emissions. In practice, ride sharing can include carpooling (pre-arranged or app-matched), shared rides (multiple pick-ups and drop-offs on a similar route), and sometimes vanpooling for commuting.
In EV infrastructure planning, ride sharing is treated as a high-utilization mobility use case that increases charging demand at specific times and locations.
Ride Sharing vs Ride Hailing
Ride sharing is often confused with ride hailing, but they are not the same:
– Ride sharing: multiple riders share one trip (carpool/shared ride), often optimizing occupancy
– Ride hailing: a passenger requests a trip from a driver via an app (private-hire/taxi-like), not necessarily shared
– Some platforms offer “shared ride” options inside ride-hailing apps, which is ride sharing as a trip type
Why Ride Sharing Matters for EV Charging
Ride sharing can change EV charging patterns because vehicles may:
– Drive more kilometers per day than private cars, increasing kWh per vehicle demand
– Operate in predictable peaks (commuting windows), concentrating demand on certain sites
– Need fast turnaround between trips, increasing reliance on reliable public charging networks
– Spend time at staging areas (airports, city centers) where destination charging or managed hubs are common
For charging operators, ride sharing demand can improve utilization rate and revenue per charger, but can also create congestion and queues if capacity is undersized.
Common EV Charging Models for Ride Sharing
Ride sharing fleets and drivers typically use a mix of:
– Home charging for drivers with off-street parking (lowest energy cost)
– Workplace charging for commuter-focused patterns
– Destination AC charging near high dwell-time locations (parking facilities, hubs)
– Public DC fast charging for quick top-ups between trip blocks
– Fleet depot charging when vehicles are platform-owned, leased, or centrally managed
Operational Challenges and Considerations
– Demand spikes during commuting hours can require load management and site capacity planning
– Queue management becomes important near hotspots (stations, airports, city centers)
– Reliability is critical: downtime can reduce vehicle availability and driver earnings
– Authentication and billing must be fast (app, RFID, roaming) to reduce friction
– Pricing policy (per kWh vs per minute, idle fees) affects bay turnover and behavior
KPIs Used in Ride Sharing Charging Planning
– Energy demand: kWh/day per vehicle or driver cohort
– Charging time per shift and impact on trip availability
– Site performance: utilization rate, sessions/day, kWh/day
– Financials: revenue per charger, net margin (after energy + fees)
– Operational health: uptime, fault rate, mean time to repair
Related Glossary Terms
Ride hailing
Shared mobility
Fleet electrification
Fleet depot charging
Public charging networks
Destination charging
Queue management
Utilization rate
Revenue per charger
Load management
RFID authentication