#Japan #Car Sharing #Park 24 #Oita #Oita University

Collaborative Research on CO2 Reduction through Car Sharing

On July 4, 2025, Oita University and Park 24 Co., Ltd. entered into a joint research agreement targeting the reduction of CO2 emissions through car sharing. This partnership embodies a timely response to the pressing global issue of climate change, seeking to enhance efforts towards achieving carbon neutrality in Japan by 2050.

In recent years, the mobility sector has seen increasing momentum in developing next-generation transportation options and infrastructure, alongside innovative circular economy models. Park 24 has played a significant role in this evolution, launching its car-sharing service, Times Car, in 2009. Currently, the company operates 58,772 vehicles nationwide with a membership exceeding 3.32 million users.

The shift from car ownership to car sharing heralded by these developments is anticipated to optimize resource utilization and mitigate the CO2 emissions associated with the production of privately owned vehicles. This objective aligns with broader environmental goals, promoting a sustainable reduction in ecological footprints.

The collaboration will integrate user survey data and usage metrics from Park 24's Times Car service with academic analyses led by Associate Professor Hiroya Nakamoto from the Oita University Faculty of Economics. By employing life cycle analysis, this research seeks to quantitatively assess the social impacts of car sharing, specifically its CO2 reduction contributions.

Through this endeavor, Park 24 aims to refine its strategies for expanding the Times Car service network, further facilitating the transition from personal vehicle ownership to car sharing. This strategic focus is expected to enhance the accuracy of calculating CO2 reduction contributions and explore operational methods to maximize such benefits. Ultimately, the insights gained will be leveraged to drive business growth that harmonizes economic and environmental values.

On the other hand, Oita University plans to broaden the existing boundaries of life cycle analysis for car sharing. This will clarify the extent of behavioral changes driven by the growing popularity of car sharing and quantify future contributions toward CO2 reduction.

Both Oita University and Park 24 are committed to utilizing the strengths of academia and industry through this joint research, fostering the development of sustainable circular economy business models and contributing to diminishing environmental impacts. By combining rigorous academic research with practical business initiatives, this collaboration positions itself at the forefront of innovative solutions to one of today's most significant global challenges: climate change. As the research progresses, the hope is to build a comprehensive understanding that informs policy and industry practices, encouraging a larger adoption of eco-friendly mobility options across Japan and beyond.