A survey on emergent trends in the optimization of car-sharing systems

This paper reviews the most recent literature on the optimization of car-sharing systems. Unlike other surveys, we do not focus on a single aspect of car-sharing systems, but we consider a wide range of optimization problems with a global view. Our aim is threefold. First, we revise the classic decision problems arising in car-sharing systems with conventional and electric vehicles, such as the fleet size, the station location, and the vehicle relocation. Then, we discuss some of the most recent decision problems arising in more innovative car-sharing systems, like those with autonomous vehicles, with mixed fleets, and the multi-modal and the time-dependent ones. Finally, we focus on new perspectives arising in the optimization of some innovative car-sharing services that are not yet (or little) investigated in the literature and that are worthy of attention from the operations research point of view. For each of them, we also highlight new and challenging open decision problems that deserve academic attention.