An innovative new mobility project has been launched in Grenoble (France) that could pave the way for cleaner, less congested cities of tomorrow.
Not just another car-sharing scheme, Cité Lib by Ha:mo offers a new type of urban mobility service based on ultra-compact electric vehicles. By complementing Grenoble’s existing public transport network, it offers people a solution for the short trips planned as part of their city journey, while reducing traffic congestion and emissions and improving air quality in the city.
Three-year experiment
The project has been brought to life through the shared vision of five partners –the City of Grenoble, France, its metropolitan area Grenoble-Alpes-Metropole, energy company EDF and its affiliate Sodetrel, Toyota Motor Corporation and Cité Lib. The experimental service will be offered to residents of Grenoble for three years from 1st October 2014.
Not just another car-sharing scheme, Cité Lib by Ha:mo offers a new type of urban mobility service based on ultra-compact electric vehicles. By complementing Grenoble’s existing public transport network, it offers people a solution for the short trips planned as part of their city journey, while reducing traffic congestion and emissions and improving air quality in the city.
Three-year experiment
The project has been brought to life through the shared vision of five partners –the City of Grenoble, France, its metropolitan area Grenoble-Alpes-Metropole, energy company EDF and its affiliate Sodetrel, Toyota Motor Corporation and Cité Lib. The experimental service will be offered to residents of Grenoble for three years from 1st October 2014.
The largest Toyota i-ROAD deployment worldwide
As part of the project, Toyota will contribute 35 fun-to-drive three-wheel Toyota i-ROAD and 35 four-wheel COMS personal mobility vehicles. The i-ROAD is a true innovation in mobility: neither a scooter nor a car, it moves around smoothly and with agility thanks to its Active Lean technology, emulating the movements of a downhill skier. With two electric motors in the front wheels, it has a rear directional wheel and can accommodate 2 persons and buckets of fun.
Not just vehicles – a whole system
Toyota is also responsible for the car-sharing management system – called Ha:mo (for Harmonious mobility) – which it piloted in its home town of Toyota City in Japan.
Both vehicles – i-ROAD and COMS – and the charging stations (a total of 120 charging points have been installed for the project) will be seamlessly connected to the transport information infrastructure of Grenoble, offering people both route planning and online/mobile reservations.
Simple as 3, 2, 1
A simple pricing plan has been created for the scheme dubbed “3, 2, 1 euros” that sees citizens charged this amount respectively for the first, second and third 15 minute increments of their use, and a further reduction is offered to those citizens who subscribe to Grenoble’s annual transport card.
The sight of Toyota’s fleet of distinctive EVs whizzing around the city will soon be another icon of Grenoble. For Toyota, it's another milestone towards creating a Smart Mobility Society, one that associates vehicles, infrastructure to provide users comfort, convenience, safety and ecology.
