The Toyota i-Road micro-mobility vehicle is to enter a new car-sharing programme in central Tokyo in April. The electric three-wheeled vehicle is already being trialled as part of a co-ordinated public transport scheme (the i-Road providing ‘last mile mobility’) in Grenoble, France and has also been trialled in Toyota City.

The new trial will see iRoad paired with Park24’s Times Car Plus service, which allows members to make use of a fleet of share-cars at any time of day. The scheme will also incorporate elements from Toyota’s Ha:mo urban transport template, which has also been adopted for the Grenoble project.

The Tokyo trial is planned to run until the end of September. Usage data and user feedback will be gathered to assess ease of use, changes in user activity patterns and public receptiveness to new mobility systems of this type.

The focus is on i-Road being used for one-way trips to businesses, shops and sightseeing locations. Users will pick up their vehicle from the Times Station at the Yurakucho ITOCiA shopping centre and later return them to any of five central locations.

Park 24 will offer the service to Times Car Plus corporate members and some individual members as well. A web page will give details of availability and take reservations. Users will be required to undertake an i-Road training course before driving the vehicle. The service will cost 412 yen (about GBP2.25) per 15 minutes and the maximum usage period is two-and-a-half hours.

Park24, which operates a network of car parks across Japan, created Times Car Plus to make public mobility even more convenient. The service has around 430,000 members and offers a wide range of cars for rental.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Toyota has been conducting trial operations of Ha:mo in Toyota City since October 2012, a system aimed at relieving traffic congestion, reducing air pollution and improving mobility. It links private and public transportation networks and is being trialled between railway stations and depots at public facilities around the city. The project was created when Toyota City was designated a Next-Generation Energy and Social Systems Demonstration Area by Japan’s Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (MITI).