Toyota Redefines “Last Mile” with i-ROAD

OK, this is just too cool and very green. We’re talking about Toyota’s three-wheeled i-ROAD, which may be the ideal solution for crowded city driving and really making green transit happen – especially the last mile.

Our editors have learned that Toyota is currently testing its i-ROAD electric vehicle to see how it can integrate with public transportation to decrease the amount of traffic gridlock.

Toyota has also announced plans to create a new city transportation system, and they’re calling it Ha:mo. This project involves providing 70 compact electric vehicles, including the i-ROAD, to the city of Grenoble, France.

The i-ROAD will be used as a “last-mile” vehicle that will help users get to the end of their destination after taking public transportation.

The basic idea is to give commuters the ability to drive the last few miles of their trip for increased flexibility. The concept is for these small cars to eliminated the need for the city’s inhabitants to have their own wheels.

Toyota believes that the Ha:mo system will reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gases in city centers. The Ha:mo program is scheduled to run for three years, and users will be charged from 3 to 19 euros to use the i-ROAD vehicles for up to four hours.

Toyota hasn’t announced whether the Ha:mo program will be tested in other cities, but it does suggest a potentially powerful alternative to other popular car-sharing programs, such as Zipcar.

Category: General Update, Green