CleverShuttle, with the involvement of Deutsche Bahn as a shareholder since 2015, is primarily used by people interested in technology and environment who want to be transferred in a CO2 neutral manner. Trips can be booked via an app, after which customers are picked up at a preferred location and driven to their desired destination. By bundling passengers with similar routes, the mobility service ensures low prices, up to 40 percent below conventional taxis.

The cooperation started in September 2017 with initially 20 Toyota Fuel Cell Mirai in Hamburg. Fuelling of the vehicles is done at refuelling stations of H2 MOBILITY, the joint venture established to expand the nationwide hydrogen infrastructure. Thanks to the high level of everyday practicality and reliability of the world’s first fuel cell sedan, CleverShuttle increased the Toyota Mirai fleet up to 45 units that are now being used in Hamburg, as well as in Munich and Stuttgart.

 “We are very pleased to have found the perfect partner in CleverShuttle for our hydrogen technology,” says Ferry M. M. Franz, Director of Toyota Motor Europe – Berlin Office. “With more than 2.2 million kilometres driven, this is the world’s most heavily used hydrogen fleet, demonstrating the innovative, attractive and trouble-free usage of this technology. We would not have been able to bring more than 500,000 people into contact with this forward-looking technology in a faster and better way“, continues Franz.

The Toyota Mirai was introduced in 2014 and has been available in Germany since 2015. It can be ordered by both private and commercial customers. As a top-of-the-range vehicle, the 4.89-meter fuel cell sedan offers its occupants maximum environmental friendliness and maximum comfort thanks to its four individual seats. The emission-free Mirai requires only hydrogen for propulsion, which is converted into electrical energy in the fuel cell that drives the 113 kW/154hp electric engine.

This only creates water vapour as an emission. With a full tank the Toyota Mirai drives up to 500 km, while refuelling takes just under three minutes.

This project has received funding from the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No 671438 and No 700350. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, the Industry Grouping Hydrogen Europe and Research Grouping Hydrogen Europe Research.

Innovative

Building on the know-how gathered from Dublin (Ireland) and Forlì (Italy) projects, the citizens of Venice can benefit from the following innovations:

• Registration: online in just a few minutes; Smart Watch soon to be added to PC, tablet and smartphone apps
• 2 service options: station based service “YUKÕ One” (pick up and return at a station of your choice) and free floating service “YUKÕ Way” (simply leave the car in any parking space in the city centre)
• Use ‘Venezia Unica’, Venice's official City Pass, to begin and end the journey, allowing customers to easily switch between public and private transportation to enhance multimodality
• A “barrier-free” Toyota Proace Verso has been added to the fleet to offer improved mobility for the disabled or elderly
• Free access to the traffic restricted areas and to paid parking areas.

Toyota Hybrids

With YUKÕ, Toyota is reconfirming its commitment to popularise self-charging and plug-in hybrid electric driving - adding to the 12 million Toyota and Lexus hybrid customers around the world already today.

Hybrid electric technologies are helping to tackle air quality issues in cities. The results of research* by CARe in Rome shows how Toyota’s 4th generation Prius on a daily commute travels 73% of the time with zero emissions. This figure was as high as 79.4% when purely in an urban environment.

Hybrid car sharing meets both societal and customer needs. The technology offers quiet, stress-free and fuel efficient driving, helping to improve air quality whilst car sharing tackles urban congestion.

From a car company to a mobility company

As the industry is going through a once-in-a-century transformation, Toyota is working towards its transition from a car to a mobility company. As stated in our 2011 Global Vision, ‘Toyota will lead the way to the future of mobility’, by developing new forms of transportation and pursuing new ways to connect technology with people.’ At Toyota, we want to contribute to an inclusive and sustainable society through mobility, whether that is mobility between cities or countries, or just across the room.

* Research by CARe (Center for Automotive Research and Evolution) of the University Guglielmo Marconi in Rome in collaboration with Enea (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development) http://newsroom.toyota.eu/toyota-prius-excels-in-zero-emissions-commuting-study/

For more information: https://yuko-carsharing.it/venezia/it/index.html

Toyota Connected Europe will be based in London to access the area’s high concentration of data scientists, engineers and software developers. Launching with an initial investment of GBP 4.5 million, the new venture is slated to employ between thirty-five and fifty people. TCEU will partner with Toyota Motor Europe, Toyota retailers and distributors in the region to support the launch of new shared mobility and fleet management solutions for consumers, businesses, governments and other stakeholders.

The company will leverage and extend Toyota’s Mobility Services Platform (MSPF), a cloud-based digital ecosystem that provides the tools necessary to bring to market mobility services including ride sharing, car sharing and remote delivery, as well as manage the European operations of the Toyota Big Data Center.

Toyota Connected Europe demonstrates the global growth of TOYOTA Connected, Toyota’s Strategic Business Unit leading development of Telematics, Big Data and the Mobility Services Platform that create new ways for people to move. The company has launched new mobility service business partnerships with Servco Pacific, Inc and Avis Budget Group through Toyota Connected North America; the e-Palette Alliance partnership with Amazon, DiDi, Mazda, Pizza Hut and Uber; and several significant partnerships with taxi companies in Japan. It has also partnered with MS&AD Insurance Group's Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co to develop the country’s first driving behaviour-based telematics automobile insurance for connected cars.

Toyota’s growing momentum in the development of advanced mobility solutions reflects the paradigm shift underway in the automobile industry driven by artificial intelligence, automated driving and connected systems.

The CleverShuttle ridesharing service, will now launch in Hamburg (following Berlin, Leipzig and Munich) relying solely on the Toyota Mirai – the first mass-produced fuel cell saloon car. This fleet is therefore powered entirely by hydrogen making it completely free of harmful substances and CO₂ on the road.

The target customers are primarily train passengers looking for transport to and from train stations. The service is booked via an app, allowing grouping of passengers with similar routes. This means CleverShuttle can offer affordable prices, up to 40 per cent less than standard taxi prices.

For the second stage, just in time for Oktoberfest, Clevershuttle will also add 15 Toyota Mirai in Munich. This means visitors can travel from the train station to the famous folk festival emission-free.

“Handing over the Mirai is a momentous occasion for me”, explained Tom Fux, managing director and president of Toyota Deutschland GmbH. “We are proud that CleverShuttle chose us to be its trusted partner, relying solely on Toyota’s fuel-cell technology in Hamburg from now on. CleverShuttle has proven that using vehicles on an everyday basis, protecting the climate and keeping the air clean are not mutually exclusive. Instead we have formed an innovative, symbiotic relationship through the combination of clever technology and on-demand ride sharing.”

“We want to bring even more e-mobility to the street. Hydrogen and fuel cells provide a vital alternative and complement purely battery-powered vehicles”, explained Enak Ferlemann, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Transport. “In recent months, the number of public hydrogen fuel stations has nearly doubled. This is an impressive development and is increasing the level of driver trust when it comes to filling up in their area.”

CleverShuttle

CleverShuttle is a ride-sharing shuttle service that was founded in 2014.

Start of operations was in February 2016 (Initially Munich followed by Leipzig and Berlin).

MaaS Global Ltd was established in April 2016 to provide multi-modal transportation services.

Through its ‘Whim’ App, it enables customers to purchase a monthly subscription package that is tailored to their transportation needs (currently this includes public transport, e-hailing and car rental). The App is already operating in Helsinki with plans this year to expand to three other major cities in Europe and then expand to other cities around the Globe.

TFS is investing to explore a co-operation model for multi-modal mobility solutions, including the necessary technology. TFS will help MaaS Global accelerate market entry and build a long term and loyal customer base.

1/Toyota Financial Services (TFS)

TFS, wholly owned by Toyota Motor Corporation, was established in July 2000 as a holding company of Toyota’s financial subsidiaires worldwide. The TFS Group mission is to ‘provide sound financial services that contribute to the prosperous life for Toyota customers and others’. The global network includes more than 35 countries that serve more than 25 million customers.

2/ About MaaS Global Ltd

MaaS Global is a Finnish start-up company established in April 2016. Its business plan brings into reality the concept of Mobility as a Service (MaaS), by building the world’s first mobility ecosystem. MaaS Global aspires to upgrade the service level of transportation by joining together public and private transportation providers. Collaboration and integration of services will create a seamless and compelling travel experience for everyone, locally and globally. In addition to Toyota, current investors include e.g. Transdev, Karsan Otomotiv Sanayii and Ticaret AS, Veho Oy AB.

For more information, visit www.maas.global, www.whimapp.com

In order to further understand the marketability of the i-Road, Toyota will also be providing the i-Road to businesses in the second installment of the project. This is to assess their needs and the ultra-compact EV's acceptability in the market, including how it will be used in shared-use environments and their usage purposes.

Similar with the first round, Toyota will also gradually increase the number of locations where associated services such as exclusive parking spots (with some offering charging services) are available during the trial period. Toyota will also develop and try out other new services when appropriate.

The progress of this validation project will be published regularly on a specially established web page found here, http://openroad-project.com/.

Ninety-six test pilots were chosen from among approximately 3,500 applicants to participate in round one of the project, which ended just recently. The responses were generally positive, with some participants stating that, "The i-Road is really convenient because I can park it in very small spaces," and "My range of travel has expanded because the i-Road helps me go anywhere easily" among others.Through these consumer trials, Toyota aims to study the best ways to develop products and services that will build on the key strengths of the i-Road, and open up exciting new possibilities for the future of mobility.

Overview of Round Two of the Open Road Project

1. Round one of the Open Road Project ran for about one year from July 2015 to July 2016.
2. Vehicle types may be switched according to the trial requirements of the participating general consumers and business operators.
3. Created by partially modifying the single-seater, this vehicle meets the application conditions of the Ultra-Compact Mobility Certification System of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Verification testing utilizing this system will be jointly carried out with Shibuya and Setagaya wards in Tokyo. 

Related News

• Call for Creativity in Toyota i-Road R&D Project in Tokyo
• Toyota Adds Two-seater Model to i-Road Trials in Japan

Based on the idea that using several means of transport in combination (so-called “multimodality”) was one of the keys to solving city traffic gridlock and pollution, the project makes available 70 ultra-compact electric vehicles, the Toyota i-ROAD and COMS, on a sharing platform called Ha:mo (harmonious mobility). These eco vehicles can be hired up to one hour before use and are located in one of 27 charging stations installed and operated by Sodetrel, a subsidiary of French energy company EDF. The stations can handle the service’s proprietary badge or any existing public transport subscriber badge. People can use them either in a round-trip or one-way pattern, and they can be booked on a smart phone. Users can also plan their multimodal city trips by connecting to the Grenoble metropolis’ route planning service, Métromobilité.

Cité Lib by Ha:mo combines all the innovations of existing car-sharing services, adding the multimodal emphasis which is not typically found in other car-sharing services. Over 1000 people have signed up for the service to date. "When comparing Cité Lib by Ha: mo to other car-sharing services in their first months of operation, we find the results very encouraging,” said Martin Lesage, Director of Cité Lib.

First findings half-way through the project
Scheduled to take place over three years until September 2017, vehicle data and user surveys have started to reveal the first usage patterns. Amongst the main findings:

• The vehicles are used more during the week than on weekends
• The peak usage times of day are the same as for other transport modes: in the morning commute hours, at lunch time, and in the late afternoon.
• The average trip is 5 km – well below the maximum range of 35 to 50 km of the electric vehicles, proving that small EVs are very suitable for city use.
• The average rental duration is 45 minutes.
• Most riders – 75% -- use the one-way option, picking up the vehicle at one station and dropping it off at another.
• 20% of users keep the vehicle for a stop-over
• The most frequently used charging stations are the two located close to the train station, with a good spread in reservations across the other 25 stations in Grenoble and neighboring communes.

User profiles
Focus groups and surveys were also conducted to understand the demographics of Cité Lib by Ha:mo users and their transport habits. Here, the data shows that:

• Although the service attracts all kinds of profiles, the average user is a 36-year-old man, typically college educated, with a white-collar job.
• Students, which are a big part of the Grenoble population during the academic year, represent 14% of customers.
• 43% have a subscription to existing public transport services (city trams and buses, regional commuter trains, or national rail)
• 54 % also take a bicycle 2 or 3 times a week and 41% on a daily basis
• 74% own at least one car
• The service enjoys a very good image: 92%* of polled active users are satisfied or very satisfied; when compared to other transport modes, users value the practicality and the ecological aspects first, before other features like time-saving, fun, speed and cost-saving.

"The mid-term review of this experiment, unique in its kind, confirms its strong potential and its integration into a multimodal perspective. Cité Lib by Ha:mo is positioned as an innovative and sustainable response to new mobility needs and complements the existing public and ecological means of transportation,” says Christophe Ferrari, president of Grenoble-Alpes Métropole.

User community and future perspectives
Cité Lib by Ha:mo recently created a users’ club to refine the understanding of customer needs and create a community around the project. Several suggestions have already been taken on board: softer suspensions were fitted on all the i-ROADs; increasing the reservation window from 30 to 60 minutes; simplifying the pricing structure to 1 euro per 15 minutes of usage.

The goal of the first year was to get the project up and running and bring all charging stations and vehicles on line, as well as start the promotion towards the population of Grenoble and environs. In the second year, the partners look to increase the user community from the current 1000, to obtain more data and increase vehicle use. The third year will be dedicated to fine-tuning the operational business model of such city car-sharing scheme.

One of the areas being explored is to make the Toyota COMS available to 16-to 18-year olds as an alternative mobility solution to two-wheelers, by giving them access to a low cost and safe four-wheeled vehicle that is limited in speed. The partners are currently working with a driving school to be able to provide drivers’ education prior to giving access to the vehicle to young drivers.

* Based on a survey conducted in March 2016 among 400 most active users.

Located in the heart of the Alps, Grenoble-Alpes Métropole continues to generate innovations. Ranked by Forbes among the most innovative cities in the world (5th position in the 2013 ranking), the Métropole boldly embraces experiments. With 450,000 inhabitants and 49 communes, the Grenoble Métropole is home to one of the best transport networks of France: 5 tram lines, 350 km of cycle tracks, 7000 rental Métrovélos.

A major player in the energy transition, the EDF Group installs, manages and maintains a network of 27 charging stations through its subsidiary Sodetrel. The aim is also to develop new products and dedicated services, such as a single badge that can be used both for public transport and the car-sharing service.

For Toyota, this experiment will demonstrate the potential of small electric vehicles for urban trips and define the optimal conditions for their use as part of a car-sharing service that is complementary to the public transport. It will also contribute to the development of the IT platform Ha: mo that supports the service.

Cité Lib, member of the first French car-sharing network Citiz, historical car-sharing actor in Rhône Alps with 250 cars in the region, and the operator of the system, ensures the customer relationships, manages the flow and maintains the vehicles. Complementarity with the classical round trip Cité Lib service is appreciated by the 4,000 subscribers, especially by the younger generation who is interested by the flexible and economical Cité Lib by Ha:mo offer.

Cité Lib by Ha:mo in a nutshell

• 1000 members
• 70 mini-vehicles : 35 i-ROAD and 35 COMS
• 27 charging stations
• 120 dedicated charging points
• 35 to 50 km of autonomy
• 1 euro for 15 minutes of usage
• 75 % one way trips (no return to pick-up point)
   

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For pictures, please visit: http://newsroom.toyota.eu/

Notes to the editors:
Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA (TME) oversees the wholesale sales and marketing of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, parts and accessories, and Toyota’s European manufacturing and engineering operations. Toyota directly employs around 20,000 people in Europe and has invested over EUR 9 billion since 1990. Toyota’s operations in Europe are supported by a network of 30 National Marketing and Sales Companies across 53 countries, a total of around 3,000 sales outlets, and nine manufacturing plants. In 2015, Toyota sold 873,844 Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Europe. For more information, visit www.toyota-europe.com 

For Grenoble and the Grenoble-Alpes Métropole, a fully electric car-sharing service has been identified as a solution to meet greenhouse-gas and other air-pollutant reduction targets. The project will provide a solution to meet the demand for "last mile" transportation and complement existing public transportation and car-sharing systems. EDF will install a charging network within the Grenoble-Alpes Métropole with charging points placed at public transportation stations to enable "last mile" transport and in areas where there is minimal public transportation. The project aims to fulfil the objectives of local public authorities to respond to the increasing need for mobility in the Ecocité area, while reducing car use.

For TMC, this project is part of research into comprehensive car-sharing schemes to explore the utility and business feasibility of co-modality transport solutions. The main objective of the research is to better understand the interconnection between the different modes of public and individual transportation in an urban environment, as well as to be able to better identify the exact needs of consumers in terms of "last mile" mobility.

For EDF Group, this project enables the evaluation for the feasibility of this new mobility system that is linked with charging stations and optimized for new urban traffic service. In addition, this project will provide a new IC-card-based personal identification and payment system, linking the charging stations with existing public transportation systems.

For Cité lib, this zero-emission urban car-sharing service will complement its current offering of mainly interurban self-service conventional gasoline and diesel car-sharing solutions.

The common challenge of the project will be to broaden consumer understanding and acceptance of car-sharing systems in preparation for its wider use the future.

TMC plans to supply nearly 70 ultra-compact electric vehicles, including the COMS ultra-compact vehicle produced by Toyota Auto Body, as well as a new vehicle based on the Toyota i-ROAD concept vehicle to be unveiled tomorrow at the Geneva Motor Show. These vehicles, with their compact dimensions, have been adapted specifically for urban driving, efficient use of parking spaces, and for "last mile" mobility needs.

TMC will also provide the One-Mile Mobility Management System, a unique centralized IT management system that will enable users to check location and availability of car-sharing vehicles and book them through smartphones. The system will also allow the fleet operator to optimise vehicle allocation throughout the charging station network.

For this project, EDF Group will set up a network of charging stations and introduce a system to manage their location information and availability. EDF Group will also provide knowledge about charging infrastructure and EV car-sharing, enhancing product and service for last-mile mobility.

Cité lib, which operates a car-sharing business in Grenoble, will handle daily operations and customer service. They will be in charge of responding to customer inquiries, subscription management, reservations and maintenance of vehicles and charging stations. They will also optimise vehicle availability throughout the charging station network.

Project overview: 

- Start of operation: End of 2014

- Project duration: 3 years

- Partners' roles:

o City of Grenoble: Allocation of parking spaces for the car-sharing system

o Grenoble Alpes Métropole: Connection to the Mobile Station trip planner

o Cité lib: Customer relationship management and daily vehicle and charger maintenance

o EDF: Planning, installation and operation of the charging infrastructure

o TMC: Supply of nearly 70 electric vehicles and provision of the One-Mile Mobility Management System to manage the interconnectivity between users, vehicles, charging stations and the web-based Mobile Station trip planner

¹A French governmental program supporting innovative urban projects such as sustainable urban development, introduction of alternative energy, and new traffic transportation systems. At this moment, 93 programs (in 13 cities) are recognized as "Ecocité". In Grenoble, a program in the northwest of the city is recognized.

² Agglomeration community

³A program supporting projects for new urban models such as innovative public transportation, alternative energy and new lifestyle approaches. The program is funded by a private investment group foundation, le group Caisse des Dépôts.

Press Contacts:

EDF

Estelle Joannin

+33 (0)4 69 65 66 16 mobile : +33 (0)6 13 47 53 76

estelle.joannin@edf.fr

Cité lib

Martin Lesage

mobile : +33 (0)6 19 79 08 73

martin.lesage@citelib.com

Ville de Grenoble

Sylviane SPINDLER-WEBEN

+33 (0)4 76 36 36 48

sylviane.spindler-weben@ville-grenoble.fr

Grenoble-Alpes Métropole

Olivier Renaud

+33 (0)4 76 59 59 51

olivier.renaud@lametro.fr

Emmanuel Chion

+33 (0)4 76 59 56 26

emmanuel.chion@lametro.fr