Japanese carmaker Toyota has been at the forefront of the green car movement: and now it is aiming to lead the way with urban mobility too.
The company has introduced an optimised urban transportation system called “Ha:mo” (standing for “Harmonious Mobility, pictured) that selects the optimal means of transport for users based on traffic conditions and public transport systems.
The vehicle sharing stations have been introduced at four locations in Toyota City and use single occupant electric vehicles manufactured by Toyota Auto Body Company.
The testing system will be made up of two elements: Ha:mo Navi and Ha:mo Ride.
Ha:mo Navi links users, transportation system operators and communities by enabling searches for low emission transport routes. It provides alternatives and encourages the use of optimal transport methods based on forecasts of transportation supply and demand. It will include a multi-modal guide for smartphones that searches for the ideal combination of multiple means of transport, including trains, buses, cars and taxis; as well as the provision of park and ride facility information; and eco points based on public transportation use. In the future this will also be combined with electric vehicle sharing information.
Meanwhile, Ha:mo Ride supports the optimal use of vehicle and public transportation over short distances: such as travel from a train station to the user’s destination using an ultra-compact electric vehicle.
From this month, the vehicle sharing locations will be established in Toyota City and will be available initially to 100 Chukyo University students and employees who will use smartphones to make vehicle reservations.
Paul is a freelance writer with a background in everything from motoring to finance; and holidays to women's undergarments he just writes about them, honestly! He has now sadly crept into his early 30s and seems to have forgotten everything learned at school Still, he's a green car fanatic and isn't that what counts?
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