New Toyota transit idea is like a small Bikeshare for electric cars

Smartcars strange cameo is not new; There are lots of them on the road, especially in cities where space is at a premium. But Toyota has launched something done benefit of wheeled vehicles Zippy i -3 for roads, namely: a new car sharing service that integrates with the existing transportation system in the city.

This concept is basically the type of BikeShare / hybrid Zipcar, means to complement existing systems of public transport. You can book a car near in advance if you want to use the app on your phone, but you do not have to take it back where you found the origin to the end of your trip. Also use stands charging stations for vehicles to ensure they are staying juice.

After being tested in Tokyo earlier this year, the name of a lib district pilot program in partnership with the sharing of a Ha Japan-based car I drove MB in Grenoble, France, where residents can rent one of the 70 cars of 29 stations across the city.


Carpooling not only these small electric vehicles more sense, logistically, the car consume large quantities of gas, a full size for a person who needs funds to reach from the tram station at work, using the new system is also more convenient and palatable idea. Zipcar car sharing schemes and other traditional (already in Grenoble) is very easy to use, but they are visible and well described as an extension of the transit system.

With enough of these elements in place, people will begin to see how you can replace your car (plus, imagine never having to worry about parking). Regarding residents pay and expenses neighborhood also lib little as 3 euros for a journey of less than 15 minutes, even if you have yet to sign up for the annual pass to use the service.

This concept is also a smart move by Toyota. Owning a car is not a gold mine, which was before, thanks to the people to get rid of their cars as they move to more urbanized areas. If cities wishing to invest in fleets of these vehicles share, and this is a good place for the automotive industry to develop. GM already receiving in the game to share, stackable, and ultimately completely independent EN-V. Toyota already has the infrastructure system built in the car sharing. Now if only they can be programmed to swing by to pick us up at home, it would be just perfect.

VIA Gizmodo
SOURCE Toyota