Nissan Creating New Carsharing Program In Yokohama, Japan
Nissan, the Japanese automaker behind the LEAF electric vehicle (EV), amongst other things, will soon be testing out a new vehicle based on the Renault Twizy chassis as part of a new public carsharing program in Yokohama, Japan.
The pilot program — utilizing the Twizy-like Nissan New Mobility Concept — is set to begin in April, and to last for, reportedly, one year. The program will be based around the Sakonyama Danchi District in Yokohama.
The pilot program — the Ultra Compact Mobility Certification System — is part of a larger push that will involve “revitalizing urban and suburban areas.” Nissan will be accompanied in the project by partner Urban Renaissance, a housing agency.
Gas2 provides a bit more information:
Presumably, any citizen in need of getting from Point A to Point B in Yokohama will simply hop into the nearest New Mobility Concept vehicle, drive to the desired destination and leave it for the next person.
The Twizy based micro-car is also part of a rental fleet in the Japanese town of Shikano. There, the cars cost the equivalent of $10 per hour after paying $12 for a training license. The New Mobility Concept vehicles are about a foot shorter than the diminutive Smart For Two, or about as long as your typical bicycle. Which means finding a parking space, even in the crowded confines of Japanese urban environments, should be a breeze.
Seems like a good fit for Japan. I’ll be curious to see if anything becomes of the new vehicle with regard to markets elsewhere.
Of course, it’s hard not to compare this vehicle with the Toyota i-Road we wrote about a few days ago. Are such vehicles the future of urban transport?
Image Credit: Nissan
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